Chemically Triggered Reactive Coacervates Show Life-like Budding and Membrane Formation

Phase separated coacervates can enhance reaction kinetics and guide multi-level self-assembly mimicking early cellular evolution. In this work, we introduce ‘reactive’ complex coacervates that undergo chemically triggered self-immolative transformations directing the self-assembly of the reaction products within their matrix. These frustrated self-assemblies then evolve to show life-like properties such as budding and membrane formation. We find that the coacervate composition critically influences reaction rates, product distribution, and guides the hierarchical self-assembly. This work showcases ‘reactive’ coacervates as versatile platform to influence reaction and self-assembly pathways for controlled supramolecular synthesis and hierarchical self-organization in confined spaces.