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High-speed AFM reveals CaMKIIα/β subunits are mixed within 12-unit rings, with βs frequently neighboring. Activated heterooligomers form stable kinase complexes, shedding light on their structural function in neuroplasticity.

Monitoring chirality transfer during self-assembly processes is challenging. Here, the authors study the assembly of chiral pillar[5]arene-based nanotubes; diastereomerically pure trimeric nanotubes are synthesized from a mixture of pillar[5]arene compounds.

Confinement of polymers in nano-spaces can induce unique molecular dynamics and properties. Here the authors show high mass fractionation by the confinement of single polymer chains of poly(ethylene oxide) in the one-dimensional channels of crystalline pillar[5]arene.

Porous carbon materials are used widely in catalysis, electrochemistry, or as sorbents, but pore size control continues to be a challenge in their syntheses. Here the authors show that the 3D molecular structure of the carbon sources allows to control the pore size of the resulting carbon materials at the Ångstrom-level.

Self-sorting is an attractive approach to produce complex supramolecular systems and materials with controlled structures. Here the authors show geometrical complementarity in the self-sorting behaviour of pentagonal and hexagonal pillararenes on heterogeneous surface through layer-by-layer deposition.

We report transparent ion conductive ionic liquid-phenol resin hybrids prepared by in situ polymerization/crosslinking of phenol monomer in ionic liquid. The transparent hybrid prepared from 20 wt% monomer concentration exhibited high thermal stability and ionic conductivity (1.0 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 30 °C), which is comparable to the pristine ionic liquid.

Melt mixing of high-density polyethylenes and wheels of perpentylated pillar[5]arenes resulted in formation of polypseudorotaxane structures. Formation of the polypseudorotaxane structures led to extension of the high-density polyethylene chains, and dramatically increased the melting point of high-density polyethylene from 126 to 152 °C. We demonstrated molten state-to-solid and solid-to-molten state transitions of high-density polyethylene based on the host–guest system.

Butylated lignin was applied as a compatibilizing agent of polypropylene-based carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. The butylated lignin increased the tensile strength of the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic from 37.1 to 40.2 MPa, which was similar to what was achieved with a well-known oil-based compatibilizing agent (40.9 MPa).

Lignin-derived compatibilizing agents were developed for polypropylene-based carbon fiber-reinforced prastics. Introduction of acyl groups to alkali lignin improved compatibility of the lignin to both carbon fiber and polypropylene while underivatized alkali lignin did not show compatibility. The interfacial shear strength between carbon fiber and polypropylene was significantly improved by addition of the lignin derivatives as compatibilizing agents.

Quick and accurate measurements of specific metabolites are critical to diagnose certain pathological conditions, but quantification methods for relatively low molecular-weight metabolites are limited. Here, the water-soluble pillar[6]arene is used to specifically and quantitatively detect 1-methylnicotinamide in crude urinary samples.

In the first part of the review, continuous and length-controllable discrete one-dimensional channels, two-dimensional sheets, and three-dimensional vesicles, bulk-state complexation based on the versatile functionalization of pillar[n]arenes are discussed. In the second part of the review, functionalized pillar[n]arene crystals showing guest-responsive changes in color, state, and water contact angle, as well as serving as reaction media for the spontaneous polymerization of cyclic monomers are discussed.