Abstract: Supramolecular assembling is the process in which the building blocks produce ordered-aggregates via non-covalent interactions. The assembling process involves common self-assembly, isodesmic polymerization, cooperatively supramolecular polymerization, supramolecular block polymerization, seeded supramolecular polymerization, living supramolecular polymerization and chiral supramolecular polymerization. Supramolecular aggregates have good controllability in a variety of environments and very important applications in many fields, such as drug deliveries, discoveries and applications, and bio-imagings. For supramolecular assemblies, there are a variety of molecular design methods for the building blocks. Since the characteristics of the self-assembled polymers is strongly affected by the chemical structure of the building blocks, and the polymers with a specific property can be prepared by the use of a rationally designed building block, highlighting the critical role of the design of the building blocks in the supramolecular chemistry. Moreover, multiple non-covalent interaction factors (hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, hydrophobic interaction, coordinate bond, van der Waals forces, host-guest interaction and so on) have to be considered and introduced into the design of the targeting building blocks. Consequently, one or more groups of —OH, —SH, —NH, conjugated groups, hydrophobic chains, hydrophobic groups, electron donor and acceptors, and the host-guest molecules are often incorporated into the designs. Undoubtedly, the rational designs of the building blocks and investigations of the outcome self-assembling processes play key roles in forming a foundation for further study of the supramolecular chemistry and applications.

Key words: Self-assembly, Supramolecular chemistry, Supramolecular aggregate, Supramolecular polymer