A H2S and I− dual-responsive supramolecular polymer constructed via pillar[5]arene-based host–guest interactions and metal coordination

Abstract

Stimuli responsive supramolecular polymers have received great attention during the last few decades because of their wide applications in the areas of nano- and bio-technology. Among various stimuli, gas and ions play important roles both in the environment and in life science. However, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)and iodide ion (I⁻) stimuli responsive supramolecular polymers are not commonly reported. Furthermore, supramolecular polymers which can be responsive to both H₂S and I⁻ are even more rarely reported. Herein, we synthesized a mono-functionalized pillar[5]arene host molecule with a pyridine group which can coordinate to a silver ion to fabricate a pillararene dimer, providing a facile way to obtain a pillararene-based dimer. Thus a H₂S and I⁻ dual-responsive supramolecular polymer was constructed by self-assembly of the pillararene dimer and a homoditopic guest in chloroform.