The title compound, 5,11,17,23-tetra-carboxy-25,26,27,28-tetradodecyloxy-calix[4]arene, 1, has been studied at the air-water interface, self-assembled as Langmuir monolayers, for its ability to interact with an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), acetaminophen (APAP), and to initiate its crystallization. The Π/A isotherm study shows that there is a clear interaction between 1 and APAP causing an expansion of the monolayer. In addition to the known phase transition occurring at a surface tension of 38mNm(-1), an additional kink is observed in the compression isotherm for concentrations of APAP above 40mM suggesting that this API is causing an additional phase transition of the monolayer. Interface-initiated crystallization studies show that the presence of a monolayer spread on a supersaturated solution of APAP (26gL(-1)) triggers this API crystal growth from the interface. The transfer of 1-based monolayers on glass surfaces has been carried out using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The so-produced monolayers have been shown to template the crystallization of APAP. LB films of 1 have characterized using imaging and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The results suggest that each monolayer has an average thickness of 18Å, which is consistent with the molecular structure of 1 self-organized parallel to the interface with the alkyl chains pointing out parallel to the axis of the macrocycle and without interdigitation of the alkyl chains. The presence of APAP in the subphase during the LB transfer causes a limited but relevant increase in the layer thickness. The study of the capabilities of the LB films to initiate crystallization of APAP is also demonstrated showing the influence of the monolayer packing on the quantity of formed crystals.

Three amidophenol-modified calixarenes have been produced reacting the parent 5,11,17,23-tetracarboxy-25,26,27,28-tetradodecyloxycalix[4]arene with o-, m-, and p-aminophenol. The produced amphiphiles have been shown to form stable monomolecular Langmuir layers on water. Working on subphases containing 1 mM acetaminophen (APAP), it has been demonstrated that the produced amphiphiles interact with this active pharmaceutically ingredient (API) with a relevant preference for the para-derivative that possesses in its structure substituents that are analogous to the target. Working at supersaturating concentrations of APAP, it has been demonstrated that the so-produced calixarene Langmuir monolayers do favor crystallization of APAP (polymorph I), with a clear effect of the packing density of the amphiphile at the interface on the quantity of produced crystals. Monolayers of the para-derivative have been transferred on solid substrates using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique; the so-produced ultrathin films have been shown to initiate surface crystal nucleation of APAP. The produced solids have been analyzed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and shown to preferentially grow in the [010] direction.

Among all crystalline complexes of calix-type calix[n]arenes those with organic molecules which are biologically relevant are especially of interest due to their potential medical and pharmaceutical applications. The co-crystallization of drugs with water-soluble calixarenes offers the opportunity to modify chemical and physical properties of APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and to control drug conformation. Such co-crystallization can improve solubility, bioavailability and stability of pharmaceutically active molecules and/or eliminate polymorphism. In this article the solid-state interactions between calixarene hosts and biologically relevant guest molecules are summarized for the currently available structures solved by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.

A diastereomeric mixture of chiral 25-(1S)-camphorsulfonyloxy-26-isopropoxycalix[4]arene 2a (de 15%) and 25-isopropoxy-26-((1S)-10-camphorsulfonyl)calix[4]arene 2b has been obtained by asymmetrical lower rim (1S)-camphorsulfonylation of the monoisopropoxycalix[4]arene. Pure diastereomer 2a has been obtained by simple crystallization, and its absolute configuration has been determinated by X-ray analysis. Enantiomerically pure inherently chiral 5,11-dibromo-26-isopropoxycalix[4]arene 4 has been synthesized by the upper rim dibromination of the diastereomer 2a followed by hydrolytical removal of the auxiliary camphorsulfonyl group.

An extremely complex solid state structure described by two virtual channels and a 2-D square grid of hydrogen bonds is generated by four carboxylic acids groups of calix[4]arene tetrabutyroxycarboxylic acid.

A calix[4]arene functionalized at one phenolic group with a pendant ethoxy acetate group, forms an inclusion complex that is stable even in the presence of other potential guest molecules.