Coordination-induced switchable nanoparticle formation from naphthyl-bridged bis(β-cyclodextrin)

Naphthyl-bridge bis(β-cyclodextrin) (1) was synthesized via "click chemistry", and its self-assembly behavior was investigated by NMR, UV-vis, circular dichroism spectra, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The results obtained indicate that the coordination of Hg²⁺ with triazole rings in 1 induces the naphthyl moiety to move from being a self-included complex to the formation of nanoparticles through intermolecular self-aggregation. Furthermore, the formation and disassembly of nanoparticle was reversibly controlled by adding or removing Hg²⁺.