Colorimetric reversibility of polydiacetylene supramolecules having enhanced hydrogen-bonding under thermal and pH stimuli

To investigate the role of hydrogen-bonding on colorimetric transition of polydiacetylene supramolecules, novel diacetylene derivatives allowing various hydrogen-bonding states were synthesized by coupling carboxy-substituted (ortho-, meta-, and para-) anilide groups with a typical single-chain diacetylene lipid. One with a terminal carboxyl group at the meta position provided the resulting supramolecular Langmuir-Schaefer films with enhanced hydrogen-bonding, and hence resulted in unprecedented colorimetric reversibility under both thermal and pH stimuli.