Heterogeneously catalyzed supramolecular polymerization: essential roles of nucleation and fragmentation-induced autocatalysis in chiral transfer.

ABSTRACT: The complexity of multi-component molecular assembly demands precise control strategies to enhance both efficiency and selectivity. Heterogeneous nucleation and the autocatalytic secondary pathway, as key regulatory strategies, have attracted widespread attention for their crucial roles in crystal growth and amyloid protein aggregation. Here, we apply a heterogeneous nucleation strategy to supramolecular polymer systems and report the first direct observation of surface-enrichment-induced primary nucleation and a spontaneous fragmentation-driven autocatalytic secondary process. A heterogeneous nucleating agent promotes primary nucleation, facilitating supramolecular chiral induction. The resulting chiral polymers undergo a catalytic cycle of fragmentation and re-growth at their termini, wi

SUBMITTER: Shi P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11862829 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature