Conformational polymorphism and amphiphilic properties of resorcinarene octapodands

o-Nitroaniline functionalized resorcinarene octapodands 1-5 with pendant methyl, ethyl, pentyl, nonyl or 1-decenyl groups, respectively, were synthesized and their structural properties investigated using X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. The upper rim of each podand is identical containing flexible side arms, in which rotation around the -OCH(2)CH(2)N- linkers create excellent possibilities for polymorphism. Two conformational polymorphs of acetone solvate of 2 were identified containing different side arm orientation and crystal packing. Compound 1 crystallized from acetone and nitromethane yielding two pseudopolymorphs with different packing motifs. The longer alkyl chains of 3-5 lead to differences in solubility and induce amphiphilic properties, which were studied at the air-water interface using the Langmuir-film technique. Crystals of amphiphilic compound 5, which has hydrophobic alkyl tails at the lower rim and hydrophilic nitroaniline groups at the upper rim, showed an interesting packing motif with alternating aromatic and aliphatic layers. Versatile structures of the octapodands in solid state and in solution serve as an example of how conformational flexibility can be utilized in crystal engineering and creating self-assembling monolayer structures.