Fabrication of a cross-linked supramolecular polymer on the basis of cucurbit[8]uril-based host–guest recognition with tunable AIE behaviors

Abstract

A photoresponsive ternary host–guest molecular recognition motif between cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), the 1,1-dimethyl-4,4-bipyridinium dication (DMV²⁺) and an azobenzene derivative (trans-2) in water was applied in this paper to construct a cross-linked supramolecular polymer. Various characterization methods were adopted to prove the formation of the polymer, such as ¹H NMR, DOSY, specific viscosity measurements, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Additionally, the tetraphenylethylene moiety was incorporated into this system and the aggregation induced emission (AIE) properties of the supramolecular polymer were also investigated.