Self-immolative linkers composed of cationic dimethylbenzyl ammonium subunits: triggered release of covalent or non-covalent payload.

A new self-immolative oligomeric linker based on cationic dimethylbenzyl ammonium subunits undergoes triggered fragmentation twenty times faster than an oligomer based on benzyl carbamate subunits. Two prototype molecules exhibit chemically triggered release of a chromophore as molecular payload, or triggered release of the host molecule cucurbit[7]uril.