Symmetry breaking-induced double-strand helices in H-bonded coassembly

Double-strand helical structures are important in information storage of biomacromolecules, while the artificial synthesis depends on chirality transfer from the molecular to supramolecular scale, and the synthesis through symmetry breaking has yet been accomplished. In this work, we present the multiple-constituent coassembly of a melamine derivative and an N-terminal aromatic amino acid into double helical nanoarchitectures via symmetry breaking. Multiple intramolecular H-bond formation between constituents played key roles in directing the formation of helical structures. Intertwining of single helices with identical helical parameters afforded double helical structures, benefiting from the uniformity and monodispersity of nanoarchitectures. With introduction of coded chiral amino acid derivatives as chiral sources, the handedness could be readily manipulated with exclusive correlation to the absolute chirality of amino acids. Molecular flexibility of the melamine derivative facilitates the propeller-shaped complex formation to afford helical columnar coassemblies and double helical structures. This work presents a rational control over the emergence and properties of double helical structures in multiple-constituent coassemblies through symmetry breaking, which provides an alternative method towards the synthesis of topological chiral composites and chiroptical materials.