Orthogonal Three‐Wavelength‐Controlled Two‐Stage Supramolecular Self‐Assemblies

Abstract

AbstractPhotoswitchable supramolecular self‐assemblies are promising candidates for intelligent recognition because of their noninvasive and spatial precision. However, the manipulation of the self‐assembly and disintegration of multicomponent mixtures with light of different wavelengths remain difficult. Here, an orthogonal three‐wavelength‐controlled two‐stage supramolecular self‐assembly consisting of two photoswitches, diarylethene, and protonated merocyanine is designed, mediated by supramolecular macrocyclic host. Owing to the reversible photo‐transformation of the switches, an optimized approach including three wavelengths irradiation and a thermal relaxation process is developed without mutual interference, realizing interconversion among four self‐assembled states. These self‐assemblies are photodeformable with reversibility, which can be operated in a cellular environment. Taking advantage of the photochromism in both absorption and fluorescence of these self‐assemblies in different behaviors, a visual pattern that can simultaneously display multiple hidden information under dual‐signal emission is created. This work signifies a promising strategy in improving the ability of information encryption and anti‐counterfeiting.