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Single‐Handed Double Helix and Spiral Platelet Formed by Racemate of Dissymmetric Cages
Author(s) -
Liu Xiaoning,
Shi Zheng,
Xie Mingchen,
Xu Jianping,
Zhou Zhifan,
Jung Sinyeong,
Cui Guijia,
Zuo Yong,
Li Tao,
Yu Chunyang,
Liu Zhiqiang,
Zhang Shaodong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202103821
Subject(s) - homochirality , crystallography , chemistry , enantiomer , chirality (physics) , phase (matter) , spiral (railway) , helix (gastropod) , supramolecular chemistry , symmetry (geometry) , self assembly , liquid crystal , anisotropy , crystal structure , stereochemistry , symmetry breaking , geometry , chiral symmetry breaking , condensed matter physics , optics , physics , mathematics , snail , mathematical analysis , ecology , biology , quantum mechanics , nambu–jona lasinio model , organic chemistry
Spontaneous deracemization has been used to separate homochiral domains from the racemic system. However, homochirality can only be referred to when the scales of these domains and systems are specified. To clarify this, we report self‐assembly of racemates of dissymmetric cages DC‐1 with a cone‐shape propeller geometry, forming a centrosymmetric columnar crystalline phase (racemic at crystallographic level). Owing to their anisotropic geometry, the two enantiomers are packed in a frustrated fashion in this crystalline phase; single‐handed double helices are observed (single‐handedness at supramolecular level). The frustrated packing (layer continuity break‐up) in turn facilitates screw dislocation during the crystal growth, forming left‐ or right‐handed spiral platelets (symmetry‐breaking at morphological level), although each platelet is composed of DC‐1 racemates. The symmetry correlation between DC‐1 molecules, the crystalline phase and spiral platelets, all exhibit C 3 symmetry.