Induction of supramolecular chirality

Abstract

Base catalyzed methyl ester hydrolysis of discotic C3 symmetric benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides coupled with (L) and (D) phenylalanine were found to self-assemble into supramolecular gels with helical morphological features. The handedness of macroscopic chirality was tuned by the chiral amino acids attached with the periphery of benzene-tri-carboxamides which were revealed by circular dichroism, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopic studies. Thixotropic and self-healing properties of the supramolecular gels were also assessed.