Photo-induced conversion from supramolecular to covalently linked polymers based on anthracene-appended amphiphiles

Abstract

A photosensitive amphiphile 2 was synthesized, in which the anthracene moiety in each arm was connected to a dipyridinium center by an alkyl chain. Using host–guest interactions between γ-CD and the anthracene moiety in 2, a supramolecular polymer was achieved, and such a supramolecular polymer can be further converted into its corresponding covalent polymer upon irradiation at 365 nm via [4 + 4] photocyclodimerization of anthracenes within the cavity of γ-CD. This approach affords a strategy in the transformation from supramolecular to covalently linked polymers.