Resorcinarenes can be characterized by a wide upper rim and a narrow lower rim. The upper rim includes eight hydroxyl groups that can participate in hydrogen bonding interactions. Depending on the aldehyde starting material, the lower rim includes four appending groups, usually chosen to give optimal solubility. 
The resorcin[n]arene nomenclature is analogous to that of calix[n]arenes, in which n represents the number of repeating units in the ring. Pyrogallolarenes are related macrocycles derived from the condensation of pyrogallol (1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene) with an aldehyde.
Resorcinarenes and pyrogallolarenes self-assemble to give supramolecular assemblies. Both in the crystalline state and in solution, they are known to form hexamers that are akin to certain Archimedean solids with an internal volume of around one cubic nanometer (nanocapsules). (Isobutylpyrogallol[4]arene) is held together by 48 intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The remaining 24 hydrogen bonds are intramolecular. The cavity is filled by solvent.