Non-covalent chiral fibres in aqueous gels and their functionalization

Abstract

The fully reversible synthesis of noncovalent assemblies which are held together by directed bonds is called synkinesis. Micellar fibres with a distinct stereochemistry and gels are formed by amphiphiles forming strong hydrogen bonds between chiral head groups. The 3D-crystallization of such molecular assemblies, without dominating repulsive hydration forces, is prevented by the curvature of the fibres. Curvature might perhaps be directly connected with chirality. Addition of enantiomers often leads to an irreversible destruction of gels. Recent developments relating to 'hydrophobic water' in Angstrom-wide membrane gaps are also shortly discussed.