Chiral graphene quantum dots were prepared by acidic exfoliation and oxidation of graphite, dialysis, and esterification with enantiomerically pure (R) or (S)-2-phenyl-1-propanol. Circular dichroism studies support the formation of supramolecular aggregates with pyrene molecules, where a transfer of chirality occurs from the chiral graphene quantum dots to the pyrene.

The construction of supramolecular assemblies of heterogeneous materials at the nanoscale is an open challenge in science. Herein, new chiral graphene quantum dots (GQDs) prepared by amidation reaction introducing chiral amide groups and pyrene moieties into the periphery of GQDs are described. The analytical and spectroscopic data show an efficient chemical functionalization and the morphological study of the supramolecular ensembles using SEM and AFM microscopies reveals the presence of highly ordered fibers of several micrometers length. Fluorescence studies, using emission spectroscopy and confocal microscopy, reveal that the fibers stem from the π‐π stacking of both pyrenes and GQDs, together with the hydrogen bonding interactions of the amide groups. Circular dichroism analysis supports the chiral nature of the supramolecular aggregates.

Induced π acidity from polarizability is emerging as the most effective way to stabilize anionic transition states on aromatic π surfaces, that is, anion–π catalysis. To access extreme polarizability, we propose a shift from homogeneous toward heterogeneous anion–π catalysis on higher carbon allotropes. According to benchmark enolate addition chemistry, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes equipped with tertiary amine bases outperform single‐walled carbon nanotubes. This is consistent with the polarizability of the former not only along but also between the tubes. Inactivation by π‐basic aromatics and saturation with increasing catalyst concentration support that catalysis occurs on the π surface of the tubes. Increasing rate and selectivity of existing anion–π catalysts on the surface of unmodified nanotubes is consistent with transition‐state stabilization by electron sharing into the tubes, i.e., induced anion–π interactions. On pristine tubes, anion–π catalysis is realized by non‐covalent interfacing with π‐basic pyrenes.

Induced π acidity from polarizability is currently emerging as most effective to stabilize anionic transition states on aromatic π surfaces, that is anion-π catalysis. To access extreme polarizability, we here propose a shift of attention from homogeneous toward heterogeneous anion-π catalysis on higher carbon allotropes. According to benchmark enolate addition chemistry, multi-walled carbon nanotubes equipped with tertiary amine bases outperform single-walled carbon nanotubes clearly. This difference is consistent with polarizability of the former not only along but also between the tubes.Inactivation by π-basic aromatics and saturation with increasing catalyst concentration support that catalysis occurs on the π surface of the tubes. Increasing rate and selectivity of existing anion-π catalysts (naphthalenediimides > fullerenes) on the surface of unmodified nanotubes is consistent with transition-state stabilization by electron sharing into the tubes, i.e., induced anion-π interactions. On pristine tubes, anion-π catalysis is realized by noncovalent interfacing with π-basic pyrenes.

The construction of supramolecular assemblies of heterogeneous materials at the nanoscale is an open challenge in science. Herein, new chiral graphene quantum dots (GQDs) prepared by amidation reaction introducing chiral amide groups and pyrene moieties into the periphery of GQDs are described. The analytical and spectroscopic data show an efficient chemical functionalization and the morphological study of the supramolecular ensembles using SEM and AFM microscopies reveals the presence of highly ordered fibers of several micrometers length. Fluorescence studies, using emission spectroscopy and confocal microscopy, reveal that the fibers stem from the π‐π stacking of both pyrenes and GQDs, together with the hydrogen bonding interactions of the amide groups. Circular dichroism analysis supports the chiral nature of the supramolecular aggregates.