Mechanochemical disassembly pathways of self-assembled polymer-decorated PdnL2n supramolecular architectures

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Abstract Supramolecular Pd n L 2n architectures are versatile molecular platforms with applications spanning catalysis, sensing, and therapeutic delivery. Whereas their thermodynamically driven assembly has been extensively studied, controlled strategies for disassembly remain scarce. Here, we show that ultrasound provides a powerful stimulus to trigger and probe disassembly pathways. Polymer-decorated ligands were synthesised to generate Pd n L 2n assemblies bearing appended polymer chains. Under ultrasound, shear forces transmitted through these chains apply mechanical stress to the square-planar palladium complexes, leading to ligand dissociation. Using Pd 2 L 4 cages, we explore the disassembly pathways and demonstrate ultrasound-triggered release of the anticancer drug cisplatin. Furthermore, we demonstrate that quantitative and entirely reversible activation can be achieved through solid-state ball milling. To illustrate the generality of this approach, we extend it to a Pd 12 L 24 nanosphere, one of the heaviest discrete self-assembled macromolecules reported (133 kDa), and achieve its controlled disassembly. Furthermore, ramped steered molecular dynamics simulations employing a tailored machine-learning interatomic potential reveal the force thresholds for Pd–N bond rupture and a stepwise disassembly pathway. This work establishes ultrasound as a broadly applicable strategy to access otherwise inaccessible kinetic pathways in supramolecular chemistry, with potential for applications in drug delivery and responsive materials.

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