A Synthetic Cation-Transporting Calix[4]arene Derivative Active in Phospholipid Bilayers

One order of magnitude: The transport of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions through a phospholipid bilayer occurs with much higher conductance levels with 1 and 2 than with typical Na⁺-transporting proteins or gramicidin. However, the cations do not appear to pass through the calix4]arene ring, which has a rigid 1,3-alternate conformation. diazacrown=10-benyzl-1,10-diaza18]crown-6 group.