Hybrid supramolecular materials constructed from pillar[5]arene based host–guest interactions with photo and redox tunable properties

Abstract Monocarboxylate functionalized pillar[5]arene 1 with excellent solubility in organic solvent was prepared. It could be abosorpted on the surface of gold nanorod spontaneously. Then, hybrid supramolecular materials were constructed from 1 stabilized gold nanorods and a linear dinitriles 2 driven by host–guest interaction. Interestingly, the hybrid supramolecular materials show dynamic near-infrared (NIR) and redox dual-responsive reversible properties. 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, and specific viscosity were used to characterize the obtained materials and the reversible behavior under external stimuli. We suggest that this NIR and redox dual-responsiveness properties would be useful in preparation other smart materials and have potential in vivo applications.