Helical self-assembly of 2-(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl)cyclohexan-1-ol (cycyclen)

Abstract

The title macrocyclic amino alcohol compound, C14H30N4O, is investigated as a solid-state synthon for the design of a self-assembled tubular structure. It crystallizes in a helical column constructed by stereospecific O—H...N and N—H...N interactions. The hydrogen-bonding interactions, dependent upon macrocyclic ring helicity and molecular conformation, linkR,RandS,Senantiomers in a head-to-tail fashion, forming a continuous hydrophilic inner core.