A Layered Polydiacetylene Containing Hydrogen-Bonding 4,4′-Bipyridyl Guests: Reversible Color Changes with a Wide-Range Temperature Response

Layered organic polymers have intercalation capabilities and dynamic properties. In classical intercalation chemistry, the interlayer guests are intercalated in the host layers via electrostatic interaction. The present work shows the organic layered materials with the host-guest interlayer interaction via hydrogen bond. Polydiacetylene (PDA) exhibits color changes from blue to red with the application of external stimuli, such as thermal and mechanical stresses. Here we report on a layered PDA containing 4,4′-bipyridyl in the interlayer space as a hydrogen-bonding guest. Whereas the layered PDA without interlayer guest shows the color transition at 65 °C, gradual color changes with two-stage reversibility are observed in the temperature range of −20–240 °C by the introduction of the hydrogen-bonding guest. The weaker interlayer interaction via the hydrogen bond promotes the dynamic motion directing the thermoresponsive color changes in a wide temperature range.