Exploring unknown supramolecular interacting forces to create novel supramolecular materials is an eternal theme of supramolecular science. Here, we first report a new family of supramolecular polymers formed by unconventional chalcogen-bonding interactions. A class of chalcogen-containing macrocyclic receptors, termed as chalcogena[4]arene (ChA[4], Ch = Te and Se), are designed as chalcogen-bonding donors. Using homoditopic ChA[4]s as monomers, they can linearly polymerize with a twin-headed N-oxide dianion surfactant to organize into noncovalent polymer arrays via end-to-end Ch···O^– chalcogen–chalcogen complexation in aqueous media and further self-assemble into supramolecular hydrogel fibers. The binding chemistries of different chalcogen bonds play a decisive role in tuning the parameters of noncovalent polymerizations and the mechanical properties of hydrogel networks. Moreover, such chalcogen-bonding-mediated polymer arrays can be reversibly disconnected by competing anions. This study would inspire a new direction inquiry of unorthodox supramolecular interactions and their related supramolecular materials.

中文翻译：

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硫属元素键合的超分子聚合物。

探索未知的超分子相互作用力以创造新颖的超分子材料是超分子科学的永恒主题。在这里，我们首先报道由非常规硫族元素键相互作用形成的超分子聚合物的新家族。一类含硫族元素的大环受体，称为硫族元素[4]芳烃（ChA [4]，Ch = Te和Se），被设计为硫族元素键的供体。以同位二价ChA [4] s为单体，它们可以与双头N-氧化物二价阴离子表面活性剂线性聚合，通过端对端Ch···O ^–组成非共价聚合物阵列。硫属元素-硫属元素在水性介质中的络合，并进一步自组装成超分子水凝胶纤维。不同硫族元素键的结合化学在调节非共价聚合的参数和水凝胶网络的机械性能方面起着决定性的作用。而且，这种硫族元素键合介导的聚合物阵列可以通过竞争性阴离子可逆地断开。这项研究将启发非正统的超分子相互作用及其相关的超分子材料的新方向研究。