Pillar[n]arenes are a class of macrocycles with outstanding properties given by its electron rich and symmetric cavity, and facile functionalization that allows to tune its solubility and host-guest properties. In this work, the versatility of pillar[n]arenes for the design of porous materials is studied. Pillar[n]arenes are stable to guest removal, giving solvent-free phases and thus resulting in permanent porous structures. From simple ethyl pillar[5,6]arenes, nonporous adaptive crystals are obtained and studied for the recognition and separation of butanol isomers. The cavity size of the pillar[n]arene hosts and the linear or branched characteristic of the butanol isomers influences the assembly of the pillararene to selectively adsorb an isomer. Then, an A1/A2 benzaldehyde-functionalized pillar[5]arene is used as a building block for the synthesis of an imine porous organic cage, which would result in material with intrinsic and extrinsic porosity. Finally, a lipoic acid modified pillar[5]arene is implemented as ligand for nanoclusters, improving their stability. Taking advantage of the cavity of the pillar[5]arene, a host-guest complex is formed, enhancing the optical properties of nanoclusters.