Reversible cyanovinylcarbazole-based polymer gel via photo-cross-linking reaction

A polymeric gel was prepared from a bis(3-cyanovinylcarbazole)-based derivative and a thymine-bearing calix[4]arene derivative via photo-cross-linking between 3-cyanovinylcarbazole and thymine groups by irradiation with 365 nm UV light, a novel and facile method to obtain a soft material. Values for storage and loss moduli of the bis(3-cyanovinylcarbazole)-based derivative and the thymine-bearing calix[4]arene derivative gradually increased during photoirradiation. This gel was transformed back to the solution state by decomposition of the polymer network to the monomers via irradiation with 312 nm UV light.