<br/>Polymers that release small molecules in response to mechanical force are promising targets for drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, and other applications. Mechanically sensitive molecules termed mechanophores are uniquely suited to enable molecular release with excellent selectivity and control. Our lab has developed a general and modular platform for the release of small molecules via a mechanically triggered cascade reaction. However, previous mechanophore designs based on masked 2-furylcarbinol derivatives are limited to polar protic solvent environments for efficient release of the chemical payload. Recent work demonstrates that incorporation of a tethered primary alcohol to the mechanophore enables efficient release of cargo in the absence of a protic solvent. We demonstrate how this design expands the generality of the masked 2-furylcarbinol platform for mechanically triggered release, enabling the implementation of this strategy in a wider range of chemical environments.

Broadening the scope of mechanically triggered molecular release

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