Synthesis of 1,5-(2,6-dimethylpyridyl)-calix[8]arene: solid-state structure of its dicesium complex

Reaction of p-tert-butylcalix8]arene 1 with 2,6-bis(chloromethyl)pyridine results in the regioselective introduction of the nitrogen-containing heterocycle to the 1 and 5 phenolic positions. The deprotonated form of the 1,5-bridged compound 2 acts as a dianionic ligand toward Cs⁺. The dicesium complex 2·Cs₂O(H₂O)], which has water molecules as additional ligands for the cesium cations, was characterized by X-ray crystallography.