Dithienylethene-based supramolecular chiroptical switch in phosphate-coordination-driven 2: 2 duplexes

Chiral photoswitches based on dithienylethenes have attracted extensive attention due to their unique chirality and optical activities, endowing them with potential applications in a multitude of fields. Herein, we present a new dithienylethene-based supramolecular chiroptical switch system driven by phosphate coordination. In the open-ring form, a mesocate structure (circular dichroism (CD) silent) is observed. Upon photoisomerization to the closed-ring form, the system undergoes a structural transition to a chiral helicate, exhibiting turn-on CD and enabling reversible chiroptical switching.