Rational adjustment of multicolor emissions by cucurbiturils-based host-guest chemistry and photochemistry.

The host-guest chemistry of cucurbiturils and the photochemistry of azastilbene derivatives are combined for the rationally adjusting multicolor emissions through forming different host-guest complexes and their corresponding photochemical products. Cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) can bind with azastilbene derivatives to form supramolecular polymers emitting orange light. The supramolecular polymers further facilitate the [2 + 2] cycloaddition of C═C bonds in azastilbenes by UV irradiation, emitting blue light. Different from CB[8], cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) encapsulates azastilbene derivatives to form a dumbbell-shaped host-guest complex, emitting dark-purple light. This dumbbell-shaped host-guest complex undergoes cis-isomerization after UV irradiation, thus emitting green light. Therefore, this strategy is promising for fabricating advanced stimuli-responsive fluorescent materials.