Host-guest supramolecular amphiphile enhanced photodecomposition with responsive room-temperature phosphorescence signals

Abstract Photolyzable matric belongs to photo-responsive system that experiences irreversible decomposition after irradiation. While the self-aggregation of photosensitizers in aqueous media often results in lower photosensitizing ability. In this work, an enhanced photolyzable system is constructed through host-guest recognition between amphiphilic 6-bromoisoquinoline functionalized alkoxyanthracene (AnBq) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]). In addition, a visible room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) signal occurs along with the photolysis reaction as the suppression of intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process from the anthracene moiety to phosphorous 6-bromoisoquinoline moiety. The formation of the host-guest assembly and the photolysis of AnBq are clearly corroborated through UV–Vis, NMR and MS spectroscopy. This photo-responsive host-guest assembly provides some hints for the design of photodegradable materials.