Supramolecular Structure of Extrinsically Chiral Porphyrin Hetero-Assemblies and Achiral Analogues

Nature uses chiral information to achieve the excellent degree of selection and efficiency peculiar to all living systems. But chirality is also receiving growing interest for the possible technological applications that span from chiroptical devices[1] to asymmetric catalysis,[2] memory systems,[3,4] and others.[5] The transfer of chiral information to achiral molecules through non-covalent interactions, expressed at a supramolecular level, has, in particular, gained great consideration.[6,7] In fact, non-covalent synthesis, especially when molecular recognition and self-assembly processes are involved,[8] presents many advantages: i) it is not time consuming, ii) it does not lead to side products, and iii) it dose not require an external energy source for reaction. But chirality is also receiving growing interest for the possible technological applications that span from chiroptical devices[1] to asymmetric catalysis,[2] memory systems,[3,4] and others.[5] The transfer of chiral information to achiral molecules through non-covalent interactions, expressed at a supramolecular level, has, in particular, gained great consideration.[6,7] In fact, non-covalent synthesis, especially when molecular recognition and self-assembly processes are involved,[8] presents many advantages: i) it is not time consuming, ii) it does not lead to side products, and iii) it dose not require an external energy source for reaction.