Connecting Molecular and Supramolecular Shapeshifting by the Ostwald's Nucleation Stages of a Star Giant Molecule.

The shapeshifting behavior for synthetic matters was found at either the molecular or supramolecular level, but the connection between shapeshifting at the two hierarchical levels remains missing. In this study, an 8-arm star giant molecule, , was synthesized to connect the molecular and supramolecular shapeshifting. Controlling the conditions of bulk self-assembly allowed us to bring into three different Ostwald's stages of nucleation.