Helix-Induced Asymmetric Self-Assembly of π-Conjugated Block Copolymers: From Controlled Syntheses to Distinct Properties

pi-Conjugated polymers have gained significant interest because of their potential applications in optoelectronics, bioelectronics, and other domains. The controlled synthesis of pi-conjugated block polymers optimizes their performance and enables novel properties and functions. However, precise control of the self-assembled architectures of pi-conjugated polymers remains a formidable challenge. Inspired by the precise helical architectures of biomacromolecules, the helical polymers and the supramolecular helical assemblies have gained significant attention. Helical polymers with an excess of one-handed helicity can be optically active with a strong tendency toward self-assembly. Incorporating a helical polymer into a pi-conjugated polymer can induce asymmetric helical assemblies, leading to novel chiral materials with unique functionalities.To control the self-assembly of architectures, pi-conjugated polymers are usually synthesized into block copolymers by incorporating a polymer with self-assembling characteristics. Although various pi-conjugated block copolymers have been produced, precise and asymmetric self-assembly is still challenging and has rarely been addressed. Incorporating helical polymers into the pi-conjugated polymers can induce a precise and asymmetric self-assembly, which transfers the chirality of the helical polymer block to the pi-conjugated polymer, resulting in chiral supramolecular architectures with unique chiroptical properties and functionalities. However, synthesizing hybrid block copolymers containing two distinct polymer blocks is complicated. Some general strategies such as connecting the chain ends of two preformed homopolymers and extending the chain of a prefabricated pi-conjugated polymer with a second monomer are time-consuming and require complex synthetic protocols. Therefore, developing novel strategies for the facile synthesis of pi-conjugated block copolymers with a predictable molar mass, low dispersity, and tunable composition is of practical importance.Recently, we investigated a controlled synthesis of helical polyisocyanides, helical polyallenes, and helical polycarbenes by developing advanced Pd-(II) and Ni-(II) catalysts. These helical polymers were successfully incorporated into pi-conjugated polymers, including polythiophene, polyfluorene, and poly-(phenyleneethynylene), via a one-pot sequential living block polymerization of the two distinct monomers using Pd-(II)- or Ni-(II)-complexes as catalysts. As a result, a variety of well-defined pi-conjugated block copolymers containing helical polymeric blocks were readily synthesized. Although the copolymerized monomers possess different structures and polymerization mechanisms, the one-pot block copolymerization followed a living polymerization mechanism and provided the desired pi-conjugated block copolymers in high yields with controlled molar mass, narrow size distribution, and tunable composition.Remarkably, the helical polymeric block induces the pi-conjugated block copolymer asymmetric self-assembly into a supramolecular, one-handed helical architecture resulting in distinct optical properties. More interestingly, by utilizing the crystallization of conjugated blocks and one-handed helical blocks, the crystallization-driven and helix-induced precise asymmetric living self-assembly yielded a family of uniform and single-handed helical architectures with controlled dimensions, narrow distribution, and well-defined helicity. The transfer of helical chirality to the supramolecular architectures rendered the achiral pi-conjugated blocks with unique chiroptical properties such as the emission of white light over a broad optical spectrum and the circularly polarized luminescence.