In Situ Polymerization through Supramolecular Catalysis: A Convenient Approach to Cationic Polymer Synthesis with Real-Time Visualization

Cationic polymers have been widely used in biological and chemical fields. Compared with traditional polymerization, photopolymerization is recognized as an efficient approach for synthesizing cationic polymers. However, the current photopolymerization systems still require the addition of additives, and the presence of positive charges within polymer chains poses challenges for molecular weight characterization. Here, we propose a promising approach for the synthesis of cationic polymers with real-time visualization. This involves the in situ photodimerization of O–DSP through CB[8]-based supramolecular catalysis with concomitant changes in fluorescence. The observed fluorescence variations of these cationic polymers exhibit a strong correlation with their molecular weights, enabling convenient real-time monitoring in the polymerization process. Additionally, such photochromism has demonstrated applications in dynamic ciphering and rapid write/erase materials. This approach effectively combines supramolecular chemistry and photochemistry for the synthesis and characterization of cationic polymers, offering a strategy to advance the field of information storage materials.