A photo-switchable dual-modality linear supramolecular polymer based on host−guest interaction of cyclodextrin and pseudorotaxane

Abstract A novel light-driven noncovalent–covalent switchover linear supramolecular polymer was constructed in aqueous solution via the host–guest molecular recognition of γ-cyclodextrin and cucurbit[7]uril-based pseudo[3]-rotaxane containing two photoresponsive coumarin moieties. This supramolecular polymer also could convert between noncovalent polymers and corresponding covalent polymers due to the photo-induced reversible dimerization and cleavage properties of the coumarin moiety in the cavity of γ-cyclodextrin. So the fabrication of linear supramolecular polymer based on the molecular shuttle could provide more possibility for increasing the performance of supramolecular polymer with well-defined functionalities.