Formation of a cyclic dimer containing two mirror image monomers in the solid state controlled by van der Waals forces

Two new copillar5]arenes were prepared. They are arranged in two completely different motifs, a cyclic dimer containing two monomers with two different conformations that are mirror images of each other and linear supramolecular polymers in the solid state. Not only has it been shown that to form this kind of dimer is a unique feature associated with pillar5]arene macrocycles but also it was demonstrated that weak van der Waals forces can be used to control the self-organization of monomers during their supramolecular polymerization process.