Multi-Responsive Molecular Encapsulation and Release Based on Hydrogen-Bonded Azo-Macrocycle
Jinyang Wu,
Xuan Sun,
Xianghui Li,
Xiaowei Li,
Wen Feng,
Lihua Yuan
Affiliations
Jinyang Wu
College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
Xuan Sun
College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
Xianghui Li
College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
Xiaowei Li
College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
Wen Feng
College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
Lihua Yuan
College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
Research on stimuli-responsive host–guest systems is at the cutting edge of supramolecular chemistry, owing to their numerous potential applications such as catalysis, molecular machines, and drug delivery. Herein, we present a multi-responsive host–guest system comprising azo-macrocycle 1 and 4,4′-bipyridinium salt G1 for pH-, photo-, and cation- responsiveness. Previously, we reported a novel hydrogen-bonded azo-macrocycle 1. The size of this host can be controlled through light-induced E↔Z photo-isomerization of the constituent azo-benzenes. The host is found in this work to be capable of forming stable complexes with bipyridinium/pyridinium salts, and implementing guest capture and release with G1 under light in a controlled manner. The binding and release of the guest in the complexes can also be easily controlled reversibly by using acid and base. Moreover, the cation competition-induced dissociation of the complex 1a2⊃G1 is achieved. These findings are expected to be useful in regulating encapsulation for sophisticated supramolecular systems.
