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 (Ia3d) and chiral “Im3m-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.