Controllable supramolecular polymerization via a chain-growth mechanism.

A naphthalene-diimide appended carboxylic acid either spontaneously self-assembles (P) by an open-chain H-bonding or can be arrested in an intra-molecularly H-bonded monomeric state (M) depending on the sample preparation method. Sonication of P produces a seed (S) that triggers controllable supramolecular polymerization (SP) of M via a chain growth route with first order kinetics, a tunable mesoscopic structure and a living nature as demonstrated by the chain-extension up to three cycles. SP of an achiral M, initiated by a chiral S, illustrates chiral amplification by the "sergeant and soldiers" effect.