Photoresponsive supramolecular polymers comprised of quadruply hydrogen bonded monomers of stiff stilbene with two ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) moieties have been studied. Stiff stilbene, which exists as structurally distinct E and Z isomers and the isomers show good thermal stability since they are separated by high activation barrier (~43 kcal/mol), offers considerable advantages over azobenzene as a chromophore for photoresponsive supramolecular polymers. Our study reveals that the self-assembly behaviour and physical properties of the supramolecular polymers can be regulated by photoisomeirization of stiff stilbene. Z-1   polymerize by ring-chain mechanism and the polymer of Z-1  yields fluorescent nanofibers by electrospinning. E-1  polymerize by isodesmic growth mechanism and the polymer of E-1 forms a multiresponsive gel.

Photoresponsive hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers based on a stiff stilbene unit

247th National Meeting (2014)

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