A copper/p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene/phenanthroline supramolecular compound with 1D [Cu2-calixarene]n coordination chains

A supramolecular complex [Cu(phen)2H2O]{[Cu(phen)(H2O)]2[C6AS]}·2.5H2O (phen = 1,10′-phenanthroline and C6AS = p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene) has been synthesized under hydrothermal condition, and characterized by IR spectroscopy, TG analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the structure, unprecedented 1D ({[Cu(phen)(H2O)]2[C6AS]}2−)n coordination chains (exactly being belts) are stacked into some 2D layers by the π···π stacking interactions, which are further interconnected into a 3D extended structure by hydrogen bonding. The C6AS molecules in an uncommon “up-up” double cone conformation act as the tetradentate ligands by bonding four metal atoms through four opposite sulfonate groups.