Interlocked Photo-degradable Macrocycles Allow One-Off Photo-triggerable Gelation of Organo- and Hydrogelators

[2]Rotaxanes displaying one-off photo-triggerable gelation properties have been synthesized through the clipping of photo-degradable macrocycles around the amide or urea functionalities of organo- and hydrogelators. Irradiation with UV-light cleaved the photo-labile macrocyclic components from the [2]rotaxanes, resulting in the free gelators being released into solution and, thereafter, forming gels. When the rate of gelation was sufficiently rapid, selective gelation of specific regions of the solution-and, indeed, photo-patterning of the solution-was possible.