Method for multicolor lithography using mechanical force

A method for mechanochemically gating a solution coloration comprising:

• providing a first solution comprising a macromolecular mechanophore platform comprising:
• a Diels-Alder adduct of a dienophile and a furan, wherein the furan comprises a furfurylidene scaffold further comprising an activating group A according to:
• wherein the activating group A is an electron withdrawing acceptor moiety,
• such that the furan is characterized by an ability to react with a secondary amine to form an adduct comprising a conjugated triene scaffold according to:
• wherein
• the Diels-Alder adduct undergoes a formal retro-Diels-Alder reaction upon application of mechanical force to re-produce the dienophile and the furan;
• and wherein
• the Diels-Alder adduct is covalently embedded into a polymer, such that at least one chain of the polymer is covalently attached to the furan, and at least one additional chain of the polymer is covalently attached to the dienophile;
• providing a developing solution comprising a secondary amine;
• applying the mechanical force to the macromolecular mechanophore platform for a duration of time;
• and
• adding the developing solution to the first solution
• to produce a second solution characterized by a color, wherein the color is determined by the secondary amine's identity.

A method for mechanochemical multicolor soft lithography comprising:

• providing an object to be enhanced with a pattern characterized by a color, the object comprising a polymer, wherein the polymer further comprises a macromolecular mechanophore platform comprising:
• a Diels-Alder adduct of a dienophile and a furan, wherein the furan comprises a furfurylidene scaffold further comprising an activating group A according to:
• wherein the activating group A is an electron withdrawing acceptor moiety,
• such that the furan is characterized by an ability to react with a secondary amine to form an adduct comprising a conjugated triene scaffold according to:
• wherein
• the Diels-Alder adduct undergoes a formal retro-Diels-Alder reaction upon application of mechanical force to re-produce the dienophile and the furan;
• and wherein
• the Diels-Alder adduct is covalently embedded into a polymer, such that at least one chain of the polymer is covalently attached to the furan, and at least one additional chain of the polymer is covalently attached to the dienophile
• providing a developing solution comprising a secondary amine;
• applying the mechanical force to the object in a spatially specific manner according to the pattern for a duration of time;
• and
• exposing the object to the developing solution
• to produce the pattern of the color throughout the object, wherein the color is determined by the secondary amine's identity.

A kit for mechanochemical multicolor soft lithography comprising:

• an object to be enhanced with a pattern characterized by a color, the object comprising a polymer, wherein the polymer further comprises a macromolecular mechanophore platform comprising:
• a Diels-Alder adduct of a dienophile and a furan, wherein the furan comprises a furfurylidene scaffold further comprising an activating group A according to:
• wherein the activating group A is an electron withdrawing acceptor moiety,
• such that the furan is characterized by an ability to react with a secondary amine to form an adduct comprising a conjugated triene scaffold according to:
• wherein
• the Diels-Alder adduct undergoes a formal retro-Diels-Alder reaction upon application of mechanical force to re-produce the dienophile and the furan;
• and wherein
• the Diels-Alder adduct is covalently embedded into a polymer, such that at least one chain of the polymer is covalently attached to the furan, and at least one additional chain of the polymer is covalently attached to the dienophile;
• and
• a developing solution comprising a secondary amine;
• such that applying the mechanical force to the object in a spatially specific manner according to the pattern for a duration of time;
• and
• exposing the object to the developing solution
• affords the pattern of the color throughout the object, wherein the color is determined by the secondary amine's identity.