Dendronized polydiacetylenes via photo-polymerization of supramolecular assemblies showing thermally tunable chirality

Transformation of supramolecular chiral assemblies into covalent polymers integrates characteristics of supramolecular chemistry together with covalent entities, leading to fabrication of covalent chiral materials through versatile supramolecular chiral assemblies. Here, we report supramolecular assembly of an amphiphilic dendronized 10,12-pentacosadiynoic amide (PCDA) in aqueous solutions to form twisted ribbons, which were transferred into covalent dendronized polydiacetylenes (PDAs) via photopolymerization. These supramolecular dendronized PCDA and the corresponding covalent dendronized PDAs showed unprecedent thermoresponsive properties. The thermally-induced dehydration and aggregations tuned reversibly their chiralities, which can be visually inspected through colour changes.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the transformation of supramolecular chiral assemblies into covalent polymers for the fabrication of versatile covalent chiral materials. The thermoresponsive properties of the supramolecular dendronized PCDA and the corresponding covalent dendronized PDAs are unprecedented, with their chiralities reversibly tuned by thermally-induced dehydration and aggregations, visually detectable through color changes.