Calix[4]tetrahydrothiophenopyrrole: a ditopic receptor displaying a split personality for ion recognition.

A calix[4]pyrrole fused with 2,5-dihydrothiophene, possessing both a deep, π-electron-rich pocket upon anion binding and chelating ligands on the periphery, was developed. The receptor selectively forms an ion-pair complex with CsF through H-bonding and a cation-π interaction. In the process, it adopt a conformationally fixed cone conformation. The receptor displays exceptionally high affinity toward the Hg(II) ion and forms stable complexes while maintaining a rigid 1,3-alternate conformation. This metal ion-induced conformational locking is unprecedented in calix[4]pyrrole chemistry.