Chiral J-aggregates formed by achiral cyanine dyes

Chemphyschem. 2000 Nov 3;1(3):146-50. doi: 10.1002/1439-7641(20001103)1:3<146::AID-CPHC146>3.0.CO;2-Y.

Abstract

The self-assembly of helical supramolecular structures from chiral building units is a basic principle of biological materials. The mesoscopic structure of a chiral molecular aggregate, which formed spontaneously from a nonchiral J-aggregating cyanine dye in aqueous solution, is presented. In single crystals (as shown in the picture) a coexistance of planar molecules with left- and right-handed twisted conformers of the same dye are found; the latter may act as templates to build up the helical superstructures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbocyanines / chemistry*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Carbocyanines
  • Solvents