Supramolecular Polymers and Assemblies. Andreas Winter

the 1960s, supramolecular polymers were created in which two or more ions or molecules are held together by non‐covalent interactions, such as ionic/Coulombic, hydrogen‐bonding, and π–π‐stacking interactions as well as metal‐to‐ligand coordination. A wide, diverse group of host–guest (inclusion) complexes was named in this context. Despite their chemically, highly different nature, they offer common characteristics, such as the unique ability to assemble linear polymer chains due to the mostly high directionality of these interactions and, even more importantly, their reversibility of binding. Thus, when incorporated into a polymer backbone, materials are obtained that exhibit properties that cannot be realized by traditional, i.e. covalent polymers.

Today, the fundamental theories that govern supramolecular polymerization reactions are well understood using a broad range of traditional and new analytical techniques, allowing their in‐depth characterization both in solution and in the solid state. This overview of the different types of supramolecular polymers is organized according to the non‐covalent interactions from which they have been assembled. In each case, the fundamental aspects as well as examples of supramolecular polymers with respect to their synthesis, properties, and potential applications are summarized. We have attempted to cover each field as detailed as possible in order to assist future researchers in this rapidly expanding arena. Future research on supramolecular polymers will continue to develop and thus, in part, replace traditional historic polymeric materials. It will be important to also make forthcoming materials more biodegradable, lighter, safer, and yet still inexpensive. Hopefully, this overview will help researchers open new pathways to supramolecular systems.

      June 2020

       Jena & Jupiter

Abbreviations

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18C6	18‐crown‐6
A	adenine or absorbance
A2	second virial coefficient
acac	acetoacetate
ACQ	aggregation‐caused quenching
AFM	atomic force microscopy
AF4	asymmetric flow field flow fractionation
AIE	aggregation‐induced emission
Alq3	tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium
ATP	adenosine triphosphate
ATRP	atom transfer radical polymerization
AUC	analytical ultracentrifugation
bdt	1,2‐benzenedithiolate
bFGF	basic fibroblast growth factor
Bn	benzyl
BODIPY	boron‐dipyrromethene
BMP32C10	bis(m‐phenylene)‐32‐crown‐10
BPP34C10	bis(p‐phenylene)‐34‐crown‐10
BSA	Bovine serum albumin
B21C7	benzo‐21‐crown‐7
cac	critical aggregation concentration
CB[n]	cucurbit[n]uril; n = number of glycuril units
CD	circular dichroism or cyclodextrin
CDSA	crystallization‐driven self‐assembly
ceff	effective concentration
Ce6	chlorin‐e6
cgc	critical gelation concentration
Ch^+	cycloheptatrienyl cation
ChE	cholinesterase
CIA	calixarene‐induced aggregation
CIE	commission Internationale de l′Éclairage
CLSM	confocal laser scanning microscopy
cmc	critical micellar concentration
CNT	carbon nanotube
CONASH	coordination nanosheet
cpc	critical polymerization concentration
CPK (models)	3D molecular models
CS	cold spray
CT	charge transfer
CuCAAC	Cu(I)‐catalyzed azide‐to‐alkyne cycloaddition
CV	cyclic voltammetry
CVD	chemical vapor deposition
DABCO	1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane
DBU	1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene
DB24C8	Dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8
DCC	dynamic covalent chemistry
DEB	diethyl barbiturate
DHP	dihexyldecylphosphonate
DLS	dynamic light scattering
DMAc	dimethyl acetamide
DMF	dimethyl formamide
DMSO	dimethylsulfoxide
DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid
DP	degree of polymerization
DPP	diphenylphenanthrene or diketopyrrolopyrrole
DOSY	diffusion‐ordered (NMR) spectroscopy
DOX	doxorubicin
DQ	(^1H) double quantum