A long-standing aim in molecular self-assembly is the development of synthetic nanoporescapable of mimicking the mass-transport characteristics of biological channels and pores.Here we report a strategy for enforcing the nanotubular assembly of rigid macrocycles in boththe solid state and solution based on the interplay of multiple hydrogen-bonding and aromaticphi-phi stacking interactions. The resultant nanotubes have modifiable surfaces and inner pores ofa uniform diameter defined by the constituent macrocycles. The self-assembling hydrophobicnanopores can mediate not only highly selective transmembrane ion transport, unprecedentedfor a synthetic nanopore, but also highly efficient transmembrane water permeability.These results establish a solid foundation for developing synthetically accessible, robustnanostructured systems with broad applications such as reconstituted mimicry of definedfunctions solely achieved by biological nanostructures, molecular sensing, and the fabricationof porous materials required for water purification and molecular separations.
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