Wavelength-gated photoreversible polymerization and topology control
Hendrik Frisch, Kai Mundsinger, Berwyck L. J. Poad, Stephen J. Blanksby, Christopher Barner‐Kowollik
Abstract
= 410 nm) generates cyclic entities. Thus, different colors of light allow switching between a depolymerization that either proceeds through cyclic or linear topologies. The light-controlled topology formation was evidenced by correlation of mass spectrometry (MS) with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and ion mobility data. Critically, the color-guided topology control was also possible with ambient laboratory light affording cyclic oligomers, while sunlight activated the linear depolymerization pathway. These findings suggest that light not only induces polymerization and depolymerization but that its color can control the topological outcomes.