Pillar[5]arene based supramolecular polymer for a singlet oxygen reservoir

Abstract

A new diphenylanthracene derivative (bis(5-cyanopentyl) 4,4′-(anthracene-9,10-diyl)dibenzoate) has been designed and synthesized, which can form a host–guest complex with a novel pillar[5]arene dimer. Their strong host–guest interaction was proved by nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Based on the host–guest interaction, the host–guest complex can aggregate into a supramolecular polymer network. As a result, the prepared supramolecular polymers can capture the singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generated by tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin under laser irradiation, and could then carry out ¹O₂ release under heating. Therefore, in this paper for the first time we used the supramolecular polymers constructed through noncovalent bonding as ¹O₂ reservoirs to carry out the storage and controlled release of ¹O₂. This new strategy will make it easier to provide more functional units with superior abilities of ¹O₂ storage and controlled release into organic functional materials.