Highly enantioselective photo-polymerization enhanced by chiral nanoparticles and in situ photopatterning of chirality

Abstract

Chiral nanoparticles are capable of ultrasensitive detection, characterization, and asymmetric synthesis of chiral organic and biological molecules. Here, the authors use silver nanoparticles modified with cysteine, as the sole chiral source, and unpolarized UV light, to form polydiacetylene with high chiral asymmetry from achiral diacetylene monomers.