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The functionalization of natural 1D architectures is dependent on hierarchically inner nanostructures. However, the artificial supramolecular nanofibers or nanotubes were rarely developed with complex inner structures. Inspired by a biomimetic strategy, single-molecule-diameter nanofibers of double-decker phthalocyanine (EuPc2) with compartmentalized internal space and fantastic electrochemical features were developed upon air/water interfacial assembly with poly-l-lysine. EuPc2/poly-l-lysine nanofibers can be electrochemical sensors both in water and the gas phase and have the best analytical performances for nitrite among all the porphyrins or phthalocyanines monomers and assemblies. Imbedding nitrite in compartments not only promotes the sensing but also changes the supramolecular chirality of nanofibers, and the morphological-dependent sensing properties of EuPc2 assemblies in water are different from that in the gas phase. These results suggest the unprecedented properties for diverse applications of artificial 1D architectures containing complex inner nanostructures.

The imine condensation reaction of 5,5'-(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)diisophthalaldehyde with cyclohexanediamine resulted in a shape-persistent multifunctional tubular organic cage (MTC1). It exhibits selective fluorescence sensing towards divalent Pd ions with a very low detection limit (38 ppb), suggesting effective complexation between these two species. Subsequent reduction of MTC1 and Pd(OAc)2 with NaBH4 afforded a cage-supported catalyst with well-dispersed ultrafine Pd nanoparticles (NPs) in a narrow size distribution (1.9±0.4 nm), denoted as Pd@MTC1-1/5. Such ultrafine Pd NPs in Pd@MTC1-1/5, in cooperation with photocatalytically active MTC1, enable efficient sequential reactions involving visible light-induced aerobic hydroxylation of 4-nitrophenylboronic acid to 4-nitrophenol and the following hydride reduction with NaBH4 . This is the first example of a multifunctional organic cage capable of sensing, directing nanoparticle growth, and catalyzing sequential reactions.