Artificial ion channel formed by cucurbit[n]uril derivatives with a carbonyl group fringed portal reminiscent of the selectivity filter of K(super +) channels

The novel artificial ion channels based on CB[n] (n = 6 and 5) transport proton and alkali metal ions across a lipid membrane with ion selectivity. The novel ion channel system could be useful in applications such as drug discovery, detection of small molecules, ion separation, and construction of molecular devices.