Exploiting Hydrogen Bonding to Direct Supramolecular Polymerization at the Air/Water Interface

Abstract Fluid interfaces provide an advanced platform for directed self‐assembly of organic composites and formation of supramolecular polymers (SPs). Intermolecular interactions govern the supramolecular polymerization processes, with hydrogen bonding (H‐bonding) as a key interaction in supramolecular chemistry and biology. Two purposefully designed supra‐amphiphiles for assessing the role of H‐bonding were designed and their supramolecular polymerization (SP) at the air/water interface was compared. H‐bonding was confirmed by in situ experimental and computational techniques as the required intermolecular interaction for attaining SPs with well‐defined molecular arrangement. Control of H‐bonding as opposite to traditionally considered interactions (e. g., π‐π stacking) is proposed as a successful strategy for SP at fluid interfaces.