Pillar[6]arene-Based Photoresponsive Host–Guest Complexation

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 134; no. 20; pp. 8711 - 8717
• Main Authors: Yu, Guocan, Han, Chengyou, Zhang, Zibin, Chen, Jianzhuang, Yan, Xuzhou, Zheng, Bo, Liu, Shiyong, Huang, Feihe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: WASHINGTON American Chemical Society 23.05.2012; Amer Chemical Soc
• Subjects: aromatic hydrocarbons; Azo Compounds - chemical synthesis; Azo Compounds - chemistry; Calixarenes - chemical synthesis; Calixarenes - chemistry; Chemistry; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Crystallography, X-Ray; cyclodextrins; irradiation; Light; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Models, Molecular; Phenols - chemical synthesis; Phenols - chemistry; Photochemical Processes; Physical Sciences; Science & Technology; solvents; Stereoisomerism; MOTION; DIMER; CYCLODEXTRIN; AZOBENZENE; COOLIGOMERIZATION; DRIVEN; ROTAXANES; BINDING
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja302998q

The trans form of an azobenzene-containing guest can complex with a pillar[6]arene, while it cannot complex with pillar[5]arenes due to the different cavity sizes of the pillar[6]arene and the pillar[5]arenes. The spontaneous aggregation of its host–guest complex with the pillar[6]arene can be reversibly photocontrolled by irradiation with UV and visible light, leading to a switch between irregular aggregates and vesicle-like aggregates. This new pillar[6]arene-based photoresponsive host–guest recognition motif can work in organic solvents and is a good supplement to the existing widely used cyclodextrin/azobenzene recognition motif.