A Visible‐Light Regulated ATP Transport in Retinal‐Modified Pillar[6]arene Layer‐by‐Layer Self‐Assembled Sub‐Nanochannel

Abstract Natural light‐responsive rhodopsins play a critical role in visual conversion, signal transduction, energy transmission, etc., which has aroused extensive interest in the past decade. Inspired by these gorgeous works of living beings, scientists have constructed various biomimetic light‐responsive nanochannels to mimic the behaviors of rhodopsins. However, it is still challenging to build stimuli‐responsive sub‐nanochannels only regulated by visible light as the rhodopsins are always at the sub‐nanometer level and regulated by visible light. Pillar[6]arenes have an open cavity of 6.7 Å, which can selectively recognize small organic molecules. They can be connected to ions of ammonium or carboxylate groups on the rims. Therefore, we designed and synthesized the amino and carboxyl‐derived side chains of pillar[6]arenes with opposite charges. The sub‐nanochannels were constructed through the electrostatic interaction of layer‐by‐layer self‐assembled amino and carboxyl‐derived pillar[6]arenes. Then, the natural chromophore of the retinal with visible light‐responsive performance was modified on the upper edge of the sub‐nanochannel to realize the visible light switched on and off. Finally, we successfully constructed a visible light‐responsive sub‐nanochannel, providing a novel method for regulating the selective transport of energy‐donating molecules of ATP.