Responsive Gel-like Supramolecular Network Based onPillar[6]arene–Ferrocenium Recognition Motifs in PolymericMatrix.

A dual-responsivesupramolecular network based on pillar[6]arene–ferroceniumredox-controllable recognition motifs in polymeric backbones is constructedwith a ferrocenium-functionalized copolymer and a pillar[6]arene copolymer,in which the first example of pillar[6]arene-functionalized copolymerwas synthesized through the reversible addition/fragmentation chain-transfercopolymerization of an acrylate-functionalized pillar[6]arene andmethyl acrylate. The resulting supramolecular network exhibits dramaticallyincreased viscosity than the non-cross-linked mixtures and demonstratesa gel-like behavior on macroscale with a transient-network behaviorrevealed by rheology study. Furthermore, the viscoelastic propertiesof such supramolecular network can be easily controlled by differentexternal stimuli including redox stimulus and competing host/guestreagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]