Crystal and molecular structure of a crown-bridgedp-t-butyl-calix[4]arene (1:1) pyridine complex. Host-guest interaction model based on molecular mechanics analysis [1]

The crystal and molecular structure of a crownedp-t-butyl-calix[4]arene (1:1) pyridine complex is reported. Colourless transparent prismatic crystals (obtained from pyridine) C₅₄H₇₄O₈·C₅H₅N,a=13.486(4),b=15.193(4),c=16.432(5) Å, =116.44(4)°, space groupP2₁,Z=2,D_calc=1.02g cm^–3, CuK radiation =1.5418 Å (CuK)=4.99 cm^–1. Refinement was carried out using 1702 reflections withI>3(I) toR 0.12. The macrocycle shows a distorted cone conformation which defines an intramolecular apolar cavity whose elliptical aperture is 11.5×8.6 Å calculated as distances between the two opposite central C atoms of the Bu^t groups. A molecule of pyridine is included in this cavity, whereas the intermolecular cavities of the host lattice remain empty. The influence of the guest molecule on the conformation of the calixarene-crown is discussed. Potential energy calculations are performed in order to understand the nature of the host-guest interactions responsible for the stabilisation of the complex. Evidence for stabilizing CH₃- interactions are obtained from the calculations.Supplementary Data relevant to this article have been deposited with the British Library as supplementary Publication No. SUP 82068 (9 pages).