摘要
Modulating reversible isomerization of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous solutions is greatly desired. Here we report on reversible isomerization of solvatochromic donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts(DASAs) in water through the confinement from dendritic oligoethylene glycols(OEGs). Dendronization of DASAs with dendritic OEGs affords them characteristic thermoresponsiveness. These dendronized DASAs spontaneously isomerize in water from hydrophobic linear state into hydrophilic cyclic state at room temperature due to the strong hydration. However, hydrophobic microenvironment through thermally dehydration and collapse of the dendritic OEGs at elevated temperatures confines hydration of the DASA moieties and mediates their interactions with the collapsed hydrophobic OEG domains, affording their isomerization recovery in water efficiently from the hydrophilic cyclic state into the hydrophobic linear state. The confinement-mediated reversible isomerization of DASA moieties in water can be repeated through alternative photo-irradiation and thermal dehydrations, exhibiting excellent fatigue resistance.
基金
supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21971160, 21971161, 22271183 and 22371179)
the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar TP2019039) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning。
