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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Counteranion- and Solvent-Mediated Chirality Transfer in the Supramolecular Polymerization of Luminescent
Qingyun Wan1, Xin-Shan Xiao1, Wai-Pong To1
1HKU-CAS Joint Laboratory on New Materials, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract:
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 PtII 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 PtII complex at the supramolecular level.
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