Rapid limonene-induced mirror symmetry breaking in achiral polyfluorene containing pendant crown ether groups: Enhanced by ion complexation

We used Suzuki coupling polymerization to synthesize homo- and copolyfluorenes bearing crown ether pendant. Because of the presence of strong polar group, the copolyfluorene could assemble in chiral limonene quickly, and the corresponding P- and M-helical supramolecules were successfully prepared. After appending K+ ion to the helical supramolecules, the optical activity was further enhanced by the complexation between the K+ ion and crown ether pendant.194