Photo-Controlled Macroscopic Self-Assembly Based on Photo-Switchable Hetero-Complementary Quadruple Hydrogen Bonds.
A photo-switchable hetero-complementary quadruple H-bonding array, which consists of an azobenzene-derived ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) module (Azo-UPy) and a nonphotoactive diamidonaphthyridine (DAN) derivative (Napy-1), is constructed based on a reversible photo-locking approach. Upon UV (390 nm)/Vis (460 nm) light irradiations, photo-switchable quadruple H-bonded dimerization between Azo-UPy and Napy-1 can be achieved with exhibiting 4.8×104 -fold differences in binding strength (ON/OFF ratios). Furthermore, smart polymeric gels with unique photo-controlled macroscopic self-assembly behavior can be fabricated by introducing such quadruple H-bonding array as photo-regulable noncovalent interfacial connections.
['Han|Shi-Tao|ST|', 'Duan|Hong-Ying|HY|', 'Chen|Lan-Yun|LY|', 'Zhan|Tian-Guang|TG|', 'Liu|Li-Juan|LJ|', 'Kong|Li-Chun|LC|', 'Zhang|Kang-Da|KD|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9183-8364']
macroscopic self-assembly photo-switchable azobenzenes competitive binding hetero-complementary multiple hydrogen bonds