Supramolecular assembly guided by photolytic redox cycling

Abstract In living systems, the formation of structures relies on balancing kinetic and thermodynamic influences powered by reversible covalent bond chemistry. Although synthetic efforts have replicated these processes to some extent, elucidating their combination is necessary identify mechanisms that confer nature’s structural precision flexibility within a complex environment. Here we design photolytic reaction cascade where competing redox pathways control transience, interconversion production rates thiol/disulfide supramolecular monomers in situ. contrast direct assembly dissolution, generation same formed hierarchical assemblies with different order. Redox-induced cycling between thiol–disulfide led emergence new secondary chirality final assemblies. These multiple states found molecular system demonstrate concept plasticity engaged frequently biology. We importance complexity controlling propagation expanding library nanoarchitectures can be created.