Asymmetric Living Supramolecular Polymerization: Precise Fabrication of One‐Handed Helical Supramolecular Polymers

Abstract

AbstractProgramming the organization of semiconducting polymers to form well‐defined nanoarchitectures is desirable for fabricating functional materials. In this work, semiconducting copolymers, poly(cholesterol allene)‐b‐poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (PCA‐b‐P3HT) containing helical PCA and poly(alkoxy allene)‐b‐poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (PAA‐b‐P3HT) containing achiral PAA segments, were prepared. Crystallization of P3HT and helicity of PCA drove PCA‐b‐P3HT self‐assemble into spherical nanoparticles that gradually transformed into one‐handed helical nanofibers. The chirality of PCA was transferred to the supramolecular architectures, induced high optical activity in P3HT. Interestingly, the chiral seed micelles of PCA‐b‐P3HT induced asymmetric copolymerization of achiral PAA‐b‐P3HT, which led to helical supramolecular block copolymers with defined helicity and controlled length. Remarkably, the supramolecular copolymers showed white‐light emission and circularly polarized luminescence.