Calix[4]arene-based Supramolecular Gels for Mercury Ion Removal in Water.

A calix[4]arene-based gelator 1, with lower-rim mono triazolylpyridine group, capable of spontaneous self-assembly into microspheres in different ethanol/H O mixtures, is synthesized. The concentration-dependent H NMR spectra and X-ray single-crystal structure of 1 provided evidence for self-assembly of gelator 1 via cooperative interactions of intermolecular noncovalent forces. Furthermore, metallogels by self-assembly of 1 was found to exhibit remarkable selectivity toward Hg ions.