In summary we have presented the first ion channel, which is selective for thin membranes (120 A), and proof for the thinness of the thinnest membrane reported so far. The number of channels per vesicle can be varied from, presumably, one to several thousand. Several applications of the perforated vesicle membranes can be imagined, if efficient stopcocks can be developed to close and reopen the holes. This possibility is investigated currently. Head groups different from pyromellitic acid, e.g., positively charged ammonium groups, will also be investigated. The isocyano function occurs naturally in compounds isolated from terrestrial microorganisms and from marine sponges. A majority of the sponge metabolites have been sesquiterpenes. Isocyanoterpenes have generally been monofunctionalized and have often been accompanied by corresponding isothiocyano and formamido derivatives. We report here the structure of a new richly functionalized tricyclic diterpene, which bears isocyano, hydroxyl, tetrahydropyranyl, and chlorine functions. Compound 1, which we have named kalihinol-A, exhibits in vitro activity against Bacillis subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans but is inactive against Escherichia coli. We also describe its isolation process from an Acanthella sp. sponge collected in Apra Harbor, Guam, spectral characterization (IR, 1H NMR, EIHRMS), and X-ray diffraction structural analysis results (three six-membered rings: two cyclohexane rings in the trans-decalin and a tetrahydropyran; two isonitriles in axial position at C-14 and equatorial at C-9; an equatorial chlorine substituent at C-2). Coupled reactions, i.e., reactions that mutually influence each other, play a fundamental role in biological processes such as ion transport and oxidative phosphorylation. To gain insight into coupled reactions we have begun exploration of the behavior of redox-active crown ethers such as a class of molecules in which the proximity of the electroactive quinone group to the ion-binding crown moiety results in coupling of redox reactions of the quinone with ion bonding by the crown. Cyclic voltammetric studies of I in DMF provide strong evidence for the desired coupling between complexation and redox reactions of this molecule: the presence of alkali metal salts makes the quinone easier to reduce, with potential shifts decreasing in the order K+ > Na+ > Li+ (consistent with the fit between metal ion and crown). Parallel EPR studies of the corresponding crown semiquinone I-SQ provide further evidence supporting complex formation with alkali metal ions (appearance of 23Na superhyperfine splitting upon addition of Na+ and changes in CH3 and CH2 hyperfine splitting indicating perturbation of the semiquinone's HOMO by complexation).