Supramolecular assemblies of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene with aquated trivalent lanthanide ions

New structural motifs incorporating trivalent lanthanoid ions and p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene, derived from solutions with or without potential host molecules for the calixarene, notably 18-crown-6, 1-aza-18-crown-6, and cryptand[2.2.2], have been authenticated. These include coordination polymers which form bi-layer sheet structures and an unprecedented combined 'ferris wheel' and 'molecular capsule' structure for Ce3+ which incorporates two previously reported structural motifs associated with this type of chemistry, respectively for elements to the left and right of cerium in the lanthanide series.