Chapter 10 - Molecular Self-Assembly Under Kinetic Control

Abstract

The process of molecular self-assembly has often been explained by assuming that the system rapidly equilibrates through reversible noncovalent bond formation, thereby spontaneously yielding the most stable structure in terms of free energy. However, some of the recent studies have shown that a metastable state can be involved during molecular self-assembly and time-dependent evolution is operative. Such molecular self-assemblies under kinetic control are expected to lead to unprecedented supramolecular systems. Living supramolecular polymerization is one of the outcomes that are achieved as a result of an extension of this concept. Herein, we have discussed molecular self-assemblies that are not in equilibrium and instead under kinetic control. Unique characteristics such as mechanoresponsiveness and spatiotemporal control of the molecular self-assembly have been found for this new type of supramolecular systems.