A newly designed oligopyridine ligand in which two tris(3,5-pyridine) units are linked by an alkyl spacer is complexed with (en)Pd(NO3)(2) leading to the self-assembly of a coordination nanotube with an empty cavity. The covalent link in the ligand considerably stabilizes the tube because the tube framework without the covalent link does not assemble unless a template is employed. Size-discriminated alkane inclusion by the tube is also disclosed.