Photoresponsive supramolecular polymers

This chapter focuses on photoresponsive supramolecular polymers based on host-guest and metal-ligand complexation, complementary hydrogen-bonding interactions, and π-π stacking interactions between photochromic moieties. Supramolecular polymers based on π-π stacking interactions play important roles to discuss the underpinning principles. Huang and coworkers successfully prepared a photoresponsive metallosupramolecular polymer using a stiff stilbene functionalized with pyridine ligands. Intermolecular photoreactions such as photocyclization and photodimerization reactions observed for acenes can be applied to designing photoresponsive supramolecular polymers. The chapter highlights utilization of photochromic molecules to control the degree of supramolecular polymerization, the supramolecular polymerization process, and topologies of one-dimensional (1D) chains. It addresses specific design of supramolecular monomers inducing topological changes of 1D supramolecular chains, along with maintaining the degree of polymerization during photoisomerization. The chapter summarizes the application of photochromic molecules for other functional materials, such as vesicles, micelles, gels, organic nanotubes, biomolecular systems, and molecular machines.