Self-assembly of a thymine quartet and quadruplex via an organic template

The synthesis of two hydrophobic cavitands bearing four (1) and eight (2) thymidine residues covalently linked with triazole moieties is reported. Spectral evidence indicates the adoption of a hydrogen-bonded T-quartet assembly by 1 in chloroform at low temperature and a π-stacked quadruplex by 2 in DMSO under ambient conditions.