Rational design and application of a redox-active, photoresponsive, discrete metallogelator

A photoresponsive discrete metallogelator was rationally designed by incorporating a photochromic azobenzene subunit in the structure of a redox-active ferrocene-peptide conjugate. The target molecule was purposefully equipped with a dipeptide unit capable of self-assembly in response to sonication. The designed molecule was shown to undergo supramolecular self-assembly and achieve organogelation in response to ultrasound, light, heat, and redox signals. The sol-gel phase transition of the designed gelator was found to be sensitive to a plethora of input stimuli, allowing the application of the sol-gel transition behavior in basic logic gate operations. A gel-based NOT logic gate operation was realized when the redox-active property of the organogel was examined by using different oxidizing agents. The smart response of the gelator was further exploited in designing XOR operations under oxidizing or non-oxidizing conditions.