Photolysis of a bola-type supra-amphiphile promoted by water-soluble pillar[5] arene-induced assembly

A bola-type supra-amphiphile assembled from a water-soluble pillar[5] arene host (WP5) and a rod-coil guest molecule (G) containing a photoactive 9,10-dialkoxyanthracene group was successfully constructed, which could further assemble into a monolayer supramolecular vesicle. Interestingly, the photodecomposition rate of G was remarkably promoted after its aggregation with WP5, accompanied by the disassembly of the formed supramolecular vesicle, especially with the coassembly of a photosensitizer eosin Y, which has potential applications in phototherapy.