Single-Molecular Artificial Transmembrane Water Channels

Hydrazide-appended pillar[5]­arene derivatives have been synthesized. X-ray crystal structure analysis and 1H NMR studies revealed that the molecules adopt unique tubular conformations. Inserting the molecules into the lipid membranes of vesicles leads to the transport of water through the channels produced by single molecules, as supported by dynamic light scattering and cryo-SEM experiments. The channels exhibit the transport activity at a very low channel to lipid ratio (0.027 mol %), and a water permeability of 8.6 × 10–10 cm s–1 is realized. In addition, like natural water channel proteins, the artificial systems also block the transport of protons.