Electron-Triggered Metamorphism in Porphyrin-Based Self-Assembled Supramolecular Polymers

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive self-assembled molecular materials are currently subject to intense research activity. This growing interest stems largely from the myriad of exciting applications envisioned for dynamic supramolecular assemblies, also known as dynamers, in materials science, sensing, catalysis and electronics. Enormous technologic interests are for instance at stake in being able to devise molecular objects that could respond to external stimuli by changes in structure and function. These particular properties can lead to applications in various domains as (i) in molecular electronics, (ii) in analytic science, with switchable hosts allowing the controlled binding/release of pollutants or drugs, (iii) in materials science with the development of adaptive supramolecular polymers. Our group has been focusing over the past few years on the development of tailor-made redox-controllable molecular and supramolecular systems involving electrogenerated pi-radicals as key responsive and/or assembling elements [1-3]. In this lecture, we will focus on the physico-chemical properties of a series of porphyrin-based molecular tectons whose self-assembly can be controlled with optical or electrical stimulus. The dynamic properties of these stimuli-responsive molecular architectures and molecular materials will mainly be discussed on the basis of electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical and ESR experiments supported by quantum chemical calculations [4-7].