A Redox‐Responsive Ferrocene‐Based Capsule Displaying Unusual Encapsulation‐Induced Charge‐Transfer Interactions

Abstract

AbstractA ferrocene‐based capsule is spontaneously and quantitatively formed in water by the assembly of bent amphiphiles carrying two ferrocene units. The disassembly and assembly of the new organometallic capsule, with a well‐defined and highly condensed ferrocene core, are demonstrated by chemical redox stimuli in a fully reversible fashion under ambient conditions. In contrast to previously reported multiferrocene assemblies, only the present capsule efficiently encapsulates typical organic/inorganic dyes as well as electron‐accepting molecules in water. As a result, unusual host‐guest charge‐transfer (CT) interactions, displaying relatively wide absorption bands in the visible to near‐infrared region (λ=650–1350 nm), are observed upon the encapsulation of acceptors (i.e., chloranil and TCNQ). The resultant encapsulation‐induced CT interactions can be released by a redox stimulus through the disassembly of the capsule.