Aromatic electron donor-acceptor foldamers (aedamers) are a kind of macromolecules often folded into pleated structures via a driving force of complementary electrostatic interactions

which mainly includes three key elements: an electron donor (such as 1

5-dialkoxynaphalene

Dan)

an electron acceptor (such as 1

4

5

8-napthalenetetracarboxilic acid diimide

Ndi)

and a flexible-linker separator. The folding architectures of aedamers are formed though molecular self- assembling on the level of secondary structures/conformations

also with an increasing research highlight of self-healing functions. Based on the above background

the aedamers were roughly reviewed in this article

focusing on their chain structures

intra-/inter-molecular donor-acceptor synergistic interactions

folding architectures

formation mechanisms

and self-healing functions.