Helical supramolecular polymerization of C3-symmetric amides and retroamides: on the origin of cooperativity and handedness.

The cooperative supramolecular polymerization of 1 and 2 yields P- or M-type helical aggregates depending on the absolute configuration (S or R) of the stereogenic centres attached to the side chains. The connectivity of the amide group does not affect the handedness of the helical aggregates, but determines a larger cooperativity for retroamides 1.