Mechanically Triggered Carbon Monoxide Release with Turn-On Aggregation-Induced Emission

Yunyan Sun, William J. Neary, Zachary P. Burke, Hai Qian, Lingyang Zhu, Jeffrey S. Moore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Polymers that release functional small molecules under mechanical stress potentially serve as next-generation materials for catalysis, sensing, and mechanochemical dynamic therapy. To further expand the function of mechanoresponsive materials, the discovery of chemistries capable of small molecule release are highly desirable. In this report, we detail a nonscissile bifunctional mechanophore (i.e., dual mechano-activated properties) based on a unique mechanochemical reaction involving norborn-2-en-7-one (NEO). One property is the release of carbon monoxide (CO) upon pulsed solution ultrasonication. A release efficiency of 58% is observed at high molecular weights (Mn = 158.8 kDa), equating to ∼154 molecules of CO released per chain. The second property is the bright cyan emission from the macromolecular product in its aggregated state, resulting in a turn-on fluorescence readout coincident with CO release. This report not only demonstrates a unique strategy for the release of small molecules in a nonscissile way but also guides future designs of force-responsive aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1125-1129
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume144
Issue number3
Early online dateJan 12 2022
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 26 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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