Counteranion- and Solvent-Mediated Chirality Transfer in the Supra-molecular Polymerization of Luminescent Platinum(II) Complexes

The chirality of supramolecular polymeric materials is subtly affected by a delicate balance among various non-covalent interactions, the details of which are inadequately understood. Now, a fine balance of intermolecular interactions, including closed-shell metal-metal, dispersive and electrostatic interactions, is used to direct the delicate orientation of monomeric building blocks, thereby achieving the successful preparation of different nanostructures with distinct supramolecular chirality. Moreover, kinetically trapped and thermodynamically stable aggregates were monitored over time in the supramolecular polymerization of cationic Pt-II complexes. The dynamic self-assembly process can be successfully controlled by modifying the counteranion and solvent composition. A chiral doping approach can also be used to induce the chirality of an achiral Pt-II complex at the supramolecular level.