Facile synthesis of thiacalix[n]arenes (n=4, 6, and 8) consisting of p-tert-butylphenol and methylene/sulfide alternating linkage and metal-binding property of the n=4 homologue

2,14-Dithiacalix[4]arene 34 was conveniently prepared in 16% yield by acid-catalyzed cyclocondensation of 2,2′-thiobis[4-tert-butylphenol] with formaldehyde. The present method also afforded the first isolation of the analogues with six and eight phenol units, 36 (10%) and 38 (5%), respectively. Solvent extraction showed that 34 had high selectivity toward Cu2+ ion at pH 5.5 by coordination of the bridging sulfur with cooperative donation of the adjacent phenolate oxygens.