p-(3-Carboxy- and 3-carboxymethyl-1-adamantyl)calix[4]arenes: synthesis and arming with amino acid units

Adamantylcalix[4]arenes carboxylated at the upper rim have been synthesized by a convenient one-step procedure from p-H-calix[4]arene and carboxylated 1-adamantanols. Selective and exhaustive lower rim alkylation along with upper rim modification by amino acid fragments have been carried out. Preliminary evaluation of the novel N-linked peptidocalixarenes as ionophores for ion-selective electrodes is reported.