Dynamic control and functionalization of supramolecular chirality

Abstract

Chirality is the basic features of living matter, which is very common in nature. Inspired by the typical functions of chiral superstructures performed by biological systems, some supramolecular assemblies with chirality have been designed with the help of non-covalent intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonds, π - π stacking, electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, hydrophobic interactions, and dipole-dipole interactions. The research related to supramolecular chirality has been received increasing interest due to the dynamic characteristics of the non-covalent forces. Supramolecular chirality has become one of the hottest research topics due to the great importance in developing the life sciences, material chemistry and other related disciplines. Supramolecular self-assembly is the effective strategy for the preparation of the nano-materials with special structures and excellent properties. Supramolecular chirality can be constructed following sergeant-soldier principle or majority rule in the assembled system containing chiral molecules. In addition, supramolecular chirality could also emerge through spontaneous symmetry breaking even when only achiral molecules are involved. Dynamic supramolecular chiral materials exhibit excellent stimuli-responsiveness, the assembled structure and functional properties show sensitive change in response to external stimuli. Due to the dynamic characteristics of the supramolecular self-assembly, the supramolecular chirality can be regulated by light, temperature, redox, pH, solvent, ultrasound, ion, concentration, and so on. Supramolecular chirality attracts so much attention due to their potential applications. The supramolecular chirality has been found to be beneficial in chiral templates, chiral switches, chiral catalysis and chiral liquid crystals. Furthermore, some novel functional applications such as chiral sensing, circularly polarized luminescencent materials, and biomedical materials have been observed. The achievements expand space for the research field of supramolecular chirality, and provide novel thoughts and methods for the study of chiral scientific issues. We believe that more structural supramolecular chiral systems with functional properties are expected to be developed, and the scientific workers would uncover the mystery of the nature of the chirality and the origin of life in the future.