A novel self-assembled supramolecular architecture involving cation, anion and a calix[4]arene heteroditopic receptor

In the presence of potassium acetate the heteroditopic calix[4]arene receptor 1, in the 1,3-alternate structure and bearing two pentafluorophenyl amide groups as anion binders and a crown-5 polyether for cation complexation, self-assembles in an unexpected 2:2:2 (calixarene:cation: anion) supramolecular structure, as shown by X-ray crystal structure