Noncovalent synthesis of self-assembled nanotubes through decoupled hierarchical cooperative processes

Abstract

\u3cp\u3eBecause of their wide number of biological functions and potential applications, self-assembled nanotubes constitute highly relevant targets in noncovalent synthesis. Herein, we introduce a novel approach to produce supramolecular nanotubes with defined inner and outer diameters from rigid rod-like monomers programmed with complementary nucleobases through two distinct, decoupled cooperative processes of different hierarchy and acting in orthogonal directions: chelate cooperativity, responsible for the formation of robust Watson-Crick H-bonded cyclic tetramers, and nucleation-growth cooperative polymerization.\u3c/p\u3