Water-soluble calix[4]arenes 10a,b with chromophores (''antenna'') att
ached to the lower rim via a short spacer are described. In the neutra
l lanthanide complexes of 10a,b photoexcitation of the antenna induces
lanthanide emission via intramolecular energy transfer. Calix[4]arene
10b with a chrysene moiety as sensitizer shows strong lanthanide emis
sion for Eu3+ with an excitation maximum at lambda = 363 nm.