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Abstract The iterative association of monomer units through noncovalent interactions often leads to chiral supramolecular polymers. Monomers comprising these materials can be further divided into those with chiral centers and those without. The latter class is often less studied but attractive since it features monomer designs with chirality at the core rather than the periphery of the molecules. In this mini‐review, we summarize the existing strategies to construct supramolecular polymers from chiral molecules with no chiral centers and offer perspectives on fundamental trends and differences between them and their counterparts with chiral centers. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry 

Abstract Reported here is the synthesis and self‐assembly characterization of [n.n]paracyclophanes ([n.n]pCps,n=2, 3) equipped with anilide hydrogen bonding units. These molecules differ from previous self‐assembling [n.n]paracyclophanes ([n.n]pCps) in the connectivity of their amide hydrogen bonding units (C‐centered/carboxamide vs.N‐centered/anilide). This subtle change results in a ≈30‐fold increase in the elongation constant for the[2.2]pCp‐4,7,12,15‐tetraanilide ([2.2]pCpNTA) compared to previously reported[2.2]pCp‐4,7,12,15‐tetracarboxamide ([2.2]pCpTA), and a ≈300‐fold increase in the elongation constant for the[3.3]pCp‐5,8,14,17‐tetraanilide ([3.3]pCpNTA) compared to previously reported[3.3]pCp‐5,8,14,17‐tetracarboxamide ([3.3]pCpTA). The[n.n]pCpNTAmonomers also represent the reversal of a previously reported trend in solution‐phase assembly strength when comparing[2.2]pCpTAand[3.3]pCpTAmonomers. The origins of the assembly differences are geometric changes in the association between[n.n]pCpNTAmonomers—revealed by computations and X‐ray crystallography—resulting in a more favorable slipped stacking of the intermolecular π‐surfaces ([n.n]pCpNTAvs.[n.n]pCpTA), and a more complementary H‐bonding geometry ([3.3]pCpNTAvs.[2.2]pCpNTA).