Absorption spectrophotometric study of supramolecular complexation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with 24,26-dimethoxy-25,27-dihydroxy calix[4]arene.

Supramolecular interactions of 24,26-dimethoxy-25,27-dihydroxy calix[4]arene (1) with [60]- and [70]fullerenes have been studied in only chloroform and in a ternary solvent mixture comprising of chloroform, ethyl alcohol and toluene by UV-vis absorption spectrophotometric method. The experimental results are explained using the model that takes into account the interaction between electronic subsystems of 1 and fullerene. The most interesting feature is the preference of [60]fullerene over [70]fullerene for 1 in ternary solvent mixture as revealed by higher value of formation constant of [60]fullerene/1 complex. The selectivity towards [60]fullerene opens up the way toward self-assembling systems and new separation and purification methods for fullerenes.