Scientific article
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English

Supramolecular “sergeants”: in situ and multi-level induction of chirality in helical assemblies of triarylamine trisamide monomers

Published inChemical science, vol. 16, no. 32, p. 14584-14594
Publication date2025-07-10
First online date2025-07-10
Abstract

The induction and transmission of chirality across multiple length scales is fundamental to many (bio)chemical processes. For the majority of macromolecular and supramolecular structures adopting a helical configuration, this is harnessed by means of a monomer embedding a stereogenic element, also called a “sergeant” because of its ability to transfer its chirality preference to achiral monomers. Herein, we devise a triarylamine trisamide (TATA) monomer embedding a (thio)urea unit able to interact with a chiral phosphate anion through hydrogen bonding. Thanks to the orthogonal nature of the amide and (thio)urea functions, the anion specifically binds to the (thio)urea unit, thus yielding a supramolecular monomer acting as a “sergeant” i.e. allowing efficient chirality induction in amide-bonded TATA helical copolymers composed of various types of achiral TATA monomers. Unlike covalent “sergeants”, chirality can be induced in situ by binding of the chiral anion to pre-formed coassemblies. In addition, the catalytic performance of TATA coassemblies embedding intrinsically achiral phosphine-functionalized TATA monomers has been evaluated: higher enantioselectivities are reached with the supramolecular versus covalent “sergeant”. Our work may facilitate the design and development of supramolecular “sergeants” as a modular approach to induce chirality in supramolecular helical copolymers and catalysts

Research groups
Funding
  • European Commission - Asymmetric cooperative catalysts constructed on supramolecular helices [796020]
Citation (ISO format)
PERENNES, Antoine et al. Supramolecular “sergeants”: in situ and multi-level induction of chirality in helical assemblies of triarylamine trisamide monomers. In: Chemical science, 2025, vol. 16, n° 32, p. 14584–14594. doi: 10.1039/d5sc02159f
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Article (Published version)
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Additional URL for this publicationhttps://xlink.rsc.org/?DOI=D5SC02159F
Journal ISSN2041-6520
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