Synthetic multifunctional pores: lessons from rigid-rod (beta)-barrels

In this account, studies on synthetic multifunctional pores formed by rigid-rod -barrels are summarized comprehensively. The first section outlines the evolution of synthetic multifunctional pores from the introduction of rigid-rod molecules in bioorganic chemistry and the discovery of synthetic (beta)-barrels in comparison with pertinent Adevelopments in related areas of research. Design strategies to position active sites at the inner surface of rigid-rod (beta)-barrel pores are described in the second section. The Athird section focuses on the characteristics of transmembrane barrel-stave pores, Aemphasizing the dynamic nature of supramolecular oligomers with the aid of notional Aphase and energy diagrams. Section four introduces multifunctionality with the use of Asynthetic pores as hosts of a rich collection of guests, reaching from inorganic cations Ato organic macromolecules like peptides, oligonucleotides, polysaccharides and Apolyacetylenes. In section five, practical applicability of molecular recognition by synthetic multifunctional pores is documented Awith non-invasive fluorometric enzyme sensing. The application of host–guest chemistry Awithin synthetic pores to couple molecular recognition and translocation with molecular Atransformation is the topic of section six. The last section mentions some perspectives and challenges with synthetic Amultifunctional pores.