Photoresponsive self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were fabricated on gold surfaces using cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])-based host-guest complexes. In this architecture, the macrocyclic CB[7] unit serves as a universal anchoring platform, with one portal binding to the gold surface and the opposite portal encapsulating a photoswitchable molecular rod featuring a pyridinium-adamantyl recognition site. Four distinct molecular rods were synthesized to demonstrate the versatility of this modular approach. In solution, all supramolecular complexes retained the inherent photoresponsive behavior of the parent rods, exhibiting reversible isomerization with high fatigue resistance and minimal perturbation from CB[7] complexation. Upon surface immobilization, the resulting monolayers retained functional photoactivity, as demonstrated on all four systems. These results underscore the potential of CB[7]-anchored assemblies for the fabrication of robust, light-responsive surfaces and molecular devices.

Department of Inorganic Chemistry Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Hlavova 2030 128 40 Prague 2 Czech Republic

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nám 2 160 00 Prague 6 Czech Republic

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CCDC 2457321: Experimental Crystal Structrue Determination, 2026, 10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2nh1fn. DOI

CCDC 2457322: Experimental Crystal Structrue Determination, 2026, 10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2nh1gp DOI