Supramolecular polymers exhibit fascinating structures, and their properties, and thus applications, depend both on the strength and dynamics of the non-covalent bonds and on the functional properties of the monomeric building blocks. In this Review, we highlight the progress in methods developed to control supramolecular polymerization based on physicochemical insights into the thermodynamics and kinetics of non-covalent interactions. Prerequisites for polymer formation and stability, such as high binding strength (thermodynamics) between complementary receptor units, are briefly discussed, while the main focus is on the kinetic control of pathway selectivity, which in recent years has allowed seed-induced living supramolecular polymerization, chain growth-type supramolecular polymerization and the preparation of specific supramolecular polymer polymorphs and supramolecular block copolymers.

超分子聚合物表现出令人着迷的结构，其性能以及应用取决于非共价键的强度和动力学以及单体结构单元的功能特性。在本综述中，我们基于对非共价相互作用的热力学和动力学的理化认识，重点介绍了控制超分子聚合的方法的进展。简要讨论了聚合物形成和稳定性的先决条件，例如互补受体单元之间的高结合强度（热力学），而主要重点是途径选择性的动力学控制，近年来，这种途径已使种子诱导的超分子活性聚合得以实现，