Revising Complex Supramolecular Polymerization under Kinetic and Thermodynamic Control

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2019-11, Vol.58 (47), p.16730-16740
• Main Authors: Matern, Jonas, Dorca, Yeray, Sánchez, Luis, Fernández, Gustavo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Complexity; Functional materials; hierarchy; Minireview; Minireviews; out-of-equilibrium systems; pathway complexity; Polymerization; Polymers; self-assembly; Supramolecular polymers
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201905724

Pathway complexity, hierarchical organization, out of equilibrium, and metastable or kinetically trapped species are common terms widely used in recent, high‐quality publications in the field of supramolecular polymers. Often, the terminologies used to describe the different self‐assembly pathways, the species involved, as well as their relationship and relative stability are not trivial. Different terms and classifications are commonly found in the literature, however, in many cases, without clear definitions or guidelines on how to use them and how to determine them experimentally. The aim of this Minireview is to classify, differentiate, and correlate the existing concepts with the help of recent literature reports to provide the reader with a general insight into thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of complex supramolecular polymerization processes. A good comprehension of these terms and concepts should contribute to the development of new complex, functional materials. Let's make it simple: Pathway complexity, hierarchy, out‐of‐equilibrium, and metastable or kinetically trapped species are common terms in the field of supramolecular polymers. In this Minireview, the existing concepts used to describe the different species and self‐assembly pathways are classified, differentiated, and correlated to provide a general insight into thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of complex supramolecular polymerization.