pH-responsive supramolecular switch of a rationally designed dipyrroethene-based chromophore

Abstract

Herein, we present a strategy to access a novel class of pH-responsive, dual-state emissive (DSE), highly fluorescent pyrrole-based chromophores via diformylation of dipyrroethenes (DPE) followed by condensation with various aniline derivatives. The DPE-based chromophores exhibit a large Stokes shift and maintain good fluorescence quantum yields. Remarkably, these chromophores demonstrate reversible colourimetric changes and a fluorometric ‘on–off–on’ switch in response to pH variations. Various spectroscopic techniques, optical microscopy, X-ray crystallography, and computational studies revealed that the synthesized molecules adopt a two-dimensional conformation due to the presence of strong π⋯π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions, allowing them to function as flexible molecular hosts. Under acidic conditions, selective protonation of imine bonds and subsequent complexation with the counter anion enhance the host–guest interactions, resulting in a stable three-dimensional supramolecular structure. Notably, the reversibility of these molecules under basic conditions showcases the robustness and potential applications of these chromophores in various fields, ranging from the design of finely tuned pH-responsive degradable polymers to self-healing materials, as well as sensing and molecular devices.