Aggregation-induced emission encoding supramolecular polymers based on controllable sulfonatocalixarene recognition in aqueous solution

A pH-responsive supramolecular polymer based on a homoditopic bis-p-sulfonatocalixarene host and a tetraphenylethylene derivative guest as building blocks with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property is fabricated in aqueous solution. Quite different from usual supramolecular polymers constructed before, this novel supramolecular polymer has high luminescence efficiency rather than becoming lowluminescent after polymerization. Interestingly, the AIE signals are switchable between two alternative emission wavelengths in H2O or with ON and OFF switching in the mixing H2O-THF = 1 : 1 solution, which are realized by controllable and reversible supramolecular interactions. This strategy to design supramolecular polymers with switchable AIE property overcomes the common problem of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) in usual supramolecular polymers and provides a new concept to develop smart supramolecular polymeric materials.