Programmed construction of discrete self-assembled cyclic aggregates

Examples for programmed self-assembly of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketoximes carrying a terminal pyridine subunit are described. The solid-state structures of a series of pyridinyl alpha,beta-unsaturated ketoximes 1 were investigated by X-ray structural analysis; this demonstrated that molecules 3-5 predictably form discrete cyclic aggregates stabilized by a network of hydrogen bonds and aromatic interactions.