Abstract: Tripodal 1,3,5-tris(2-methylenemalonic acid)-2,4,6-triethyllbenzene derivatives 2-5, 1,3,5-tris(2-methylenepentane-2,4-dione)-2,4,6-triethyllbenzene 6 and 1,3,5-tri((3,5- dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl)-2,4,6-triethylbenzene 7 have been synthesized. 1H NMR spectra of these compounds are in accord with that they are all in high levels of symmetry. Single crystal X-ray structure analysis revealed that they all adopt an 1,3,5-alternate conformation with the three functional arms reside on one side of the benzene plane, and the three ethyl groups are placed on the opposite side of the benzene plane. Intermolecular hydrogen-bond interactions are the major driving force for the solid state assembly of the compounds with malonic acid (4), malonamide (5), as well as 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazolyl (7) functions. However, No molecular capsules were formed by these compounds via intermolecular hydrogen-bond interactions in the solid state. The interaction of copper(II) ions and pyrazolyl-containing compound 7 (L) resulted in the formation of a discrete cylindrical cage-like complex (Cu3L2) 8 via C-N coordination bonds by the connection of three Cu2+ ions and six pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms from two 7 ligands. The two ligands 7 in complex 8 are in a cis,cis,cis-conformation and a face-to-face orientation.

Key words: 1,3,5-Tritriethyllbenzene derivative;  , Supramolecular compound;  , Self-assembly;  , Metal complex