Mirror symmetry breaking in cubic phases and isotropic liquids driven by hydrogen bonding†
Abstract
Achiral supramolecular hydrogen bonded complexes between rod-like 4-(4-alkoxyphenylazo)pyridines and a taper shaped 4-substituted benzoic acid form achiral (Iad) and chiral “Imm-type” bicontinuous cubic (I432) phases and a chiral isotropic liquid mesophase (Iso1[*]). The chiral phases, resulting from spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking, represent conglomerates of macroscopic chiral domains eventually leading to uniform chirality.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Chirality at the nanoscale