“Supramolecular Circuitry”: Three Chemiluminescent, Cucurbit[7]uril-Controlled On/Off Switches

Abstract

Three Cucurbit[7]uril-controlled chemiluminescent on/off switches based on the lucigenin motif have been synthesized. Light emission is triggered upon addition of sodium peroxide, interrupted or dimmed in the presence of Cucurbit[7]uril, and restored upon injection of a competitive guest. The process, which can be mimicked by a simple resistor-capacitor circuit, is rationalized by examining the role of the macrocyclic host on the network of equilibria involved in the chemiluminescent process.