Dual‐Responsive Material Based on Catechol‐Modified Self‐Immolative Poly(Disulfide) Backbones

Functional materials engineered to degrade upon triggering are in high demand due their potentially lower impact on the environment as well use sensing and medical applications. Here, stimuli-responsive polymers prepared by decorating a self-immolative poly(dithiothreitol) backbone with pendant catechol units. The highly functional polymer is fashioned into gels, formed through pH-dependent catecholato–metal ion cross-links. gels response specific environmental changes, either addressing pH responsive, non-covalent, complexes, or addition of thiol. latter stimulus triggers end-to-end depolymerization entire end-cap replacement via thiol–disufide exchanges. Gel degradation visualized release dye from supramolecular gel it itself converted smaller molecules.