Wavelength-Controlled Light-Responsive Polymer Vesicle Based on Se-S Dynamic Chemistry.

Wavelength-controlled Se-S dynamic chemistry was put forward recently as a convenient way to regulate the balance of a selenide sulfide exchange reaction. In this paper, we synthesized an asymmetric polymeric amphiphile linked with a Se-S bond and then induced it to self-assemble into vesicles in water. When the visible light was applied to the assembly solution with addition of toluene, Se-S bonds containing vesicles were ruptured. Thus, the wavelength-controlled light responses of relatively stable polymer assembly were accomplished by introduction of the Se-S dynamic covalent bond, and the response mechanism of the Se-S bond in the vesicle was explored by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that fracture of the Se-S bond led to the dissociation of assembly. Introduction of Se-S dynamic chemistry into the molecular assembly area enriched the light-responsive polymer systems and would bring many potential applications in the future.