Stimuli-Directed Colorimetric Interconversion of Helical Polymers Accompanied by a Tunable Self-Assembly Process

Interconversion between extended and bent structures at the pendant groups of a chiral polyene framework [poly(phenylacetylene) with (R)-(2-methoxy-2-phenylacetyl)glycine residues linked to 4-vinylanilines] allows the reversible colorimetric transformation from stretched to compressed helical cis-transoid polyenic structures through manipulation of the flexible spacer. This transformation generates either organogels (stretched helical form) or nanoparticles (compressed helical form) under the control of polar/low polar stimuli respectively and opens the way to the development of new sensors and stimuli-sensitive materials based on these concepts.