p-tert-Butylthiacalix[4]arenes containing guanidinium groups: synthesis and self-assembly into nanoscale aggregates

New p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arenes with several different substituents at the lower rim have been synthesised. A method for the selective introduction of one or two guanidinium fragments into the structure of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arenes has been developed. The 1,3-alternate thiacalix[4]arenes containing guanidinium groups interact with silver nitrate and oxalic acid in methanol with a logK_assoc of about 3.5 and 1:1 stoichiometry, while the macrocycle in the cone conformation interacts with oxalic acid with logK_assoc of 7.4 and 2:1 stoichiometry. The new p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arenes form nanoscale aggregates with hydrodynamic radii of about 70 nm by self-association and by mediation with silver cations and oxalic acid.