Reversible Photoswitching of Donor–Acceptor Stenhouse Adducts in Water

Adamantane-substituted donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASA) form highly stable host-guest complexes with cucurbit[<i>n</i>]urils (<i>n</i> = 7, 8) in water. These assemblies show kinetic stabilization of the colored linear form and, remarkably, exhibit reversible T-type photoswitching in water. These so far elusive features for first-generation DASA reveal a strategy for their potential use in biorelevant contexts.