Pillar[5]arene based artificial light-harvesting supramolecular polymer for efficient and recyclable photocatalytic applications

Photosynthesis is the process through which living plants utilize photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll, to convert CO2 and water into organic compounds and release O2 under visible light. In this study, we have successfully constructed a fluorescent supramolecular polymer (P5Py2/Zn/Gen)n by employing orthogonal pillar[5]arene-based molecular recognition and metal ion coordination. Within the supramolecular polymer, the guest molecule Gen unit acts as a light-harvesting moiety, as the ACQ effect is inhibited by host-guest interactions, while the (Py)2/Zn center serves as a catalytic site. By employing this orthogonal self-assembly strategy, we have enhanced the stability of both the donor and acceptor in catalyzing the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol. Moreover, this photocatalyst can be reused at least 5 times without significant conversion loss. These findings provide a pathway for constructing a recyclable artificial LHS that mimics the entire photosynthesis process.