Hierarchy of Asymmetry in Chiral Supramolecular Polymers: Toward Functional, Helical Supramolecular Structures

Abstract

The formation of helical structures through the supramolecular polymerization of a variety of self-assembling units is reviewed. These scaffolds are usually obtained by efficient transfer or amplification of chirality phenomena, in which the starting self-assembling molecules possess different elements of asymmetry, such as point or axial chirality. Relevant examples of helical supramolecular structures investigated under thermodynamic control are reviewed, and the helical outcome of remarkable examples of chiral entities obtained through kinetic control are also highlighted. Finally, selected examples of flexible macroscopic chirality and catalysis are described to illustrate the applicability of helical aggregates.

Keywords: chirality; helical structures; polymerization; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry.