Reversible Formation of a Light‐Responsive Catalyst by Utilizing Intermolecular Cooperative Effects

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 58; no. 43; pp. 15254 - 15258
• Main Authors: Ren, Chloe Z.‐J., Solís Muñana, Pablo, Dupont, Julien, Zhou, Silvia Siru, Chen, Jack L.‐Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 21-10-2019
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: amphiphiles; biomimetic catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; cooperative catalysis; Dismantling; photo-switching; systems chemistry; amphiphiles; biomimetic catalysis; photo-switching; systems chemistry; cooperative catalysis
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201907078

A photoresponsive system where structure formation is coupled to catalytic activity is presented. The observed catalytic activity is reliant on intermolecular cooperative effects that are present when amphiphiles assemble into vesicular structures. Photoresponsive units within the amphiphilic pre‐catalysts allow for switching between assembled and disassembled states, thereby modulating the catalytic activity. The ability to reversibly form cooperative catalysts within a dynamic self‐assembled system represents a conceptually new tool for the design of complex artificial systems in water.
Form controls function: Dynamic self‐assembly allows the reversible formation of catalysts by exploiting intermolecular cooperative effects. By coupling structure formation to an emergent function, complex artificial systems can be designed to exhibit stimuli‐responsive properties.