Lithium-ion induced conformational change of 5,17-bis(9-fluorenyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxy calix[4]arene resulting in an egg-shaped dimeric clathrate

Synthesis and structural investigation of a 5,17-bis(9-fluorenyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxy calix[4]arene and its lithium complex salt that forms a dimeric clathrate with a molecule of solvent inside a cavity. At least three different interactions were identified as being responsible for the formation of the egg-shaped supramolecular assembly.