Reversible pH- and Photocontrollable Carbohydrate-Based Surfactants

The parallel synthesis and properties of a library of photoswitchable surfactants comprising a hydrophobic butylazobenzene tail‐group and a hydrophilic carbohydrate head‐group, including the first surfactants to exhibit dual photo‐ and pH‐responsive behavior, is reported. This new generation of surfactants shows varying micelle morphologies, photocontrollable surface tension, and pH‐induced aggregation and adsorption. Ball control: The parallel synthesis and properties of a library of photoswitchable surfactants comprising a hydrophobic butylazobenzene tail‐group and a hydrophilic carbohydrate head‐group, including the first surfactants to exhibit dual photo‐ and pH‐responsive behavior, is reported. These surfactants show varying micelle morphologies, photocontrollable surface tension, and pH‐induced aggregation and adsorption (see figure).