Complexation of fullerenes with 5,5'-Biscalix

5,5'-Biscalix[5]arene, prepared by oxidative coupling of the tetrabenzoyl ester of calix[5]arene (shown by X-ray crystallographic analysis to have a o,u,u,d,u conformation), forms complexes with C(60) (K(assoc) = 43 M(-)(1)) and C(70) (K(assoc) = 233 M(-)(1)). The X-ray crystallographic structure of the C(60) complex reveals its clamshell-shaped architecture, presumably the result of a change in the conformation of biscalix[5]arene from anti (uncomplexed) to syn (complexed).