By reacting 1,3-bis[2-(p-formylphenyloxy)ethyloxy]-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (1) with salicylide hydrazone or hydrazine hydrate in a “1＋2”or a “2＋2” condensation mode, a novel calix[4]arene derivative 2 or a biscalix[4]arene 3 bridged by benzalazine groups was conveniently obtained in a yield of 84% or 81%, respectively. The structures of all the new compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, ESI-MS, 1H NMR and 1H-1H COSY techniques, which indicate that biscalix[4]arene 3 adopts a symmetrical cone conformation with tube-cavity.

Key words: biscalix[4]arene, benzalazine, bridging, synthesis