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Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
Binary Supramolecular Chirality "1/0" Switched by Hierarchical Photoisomerization of a Flower-Like Compound with a
Jiaxin Hou1,2, Jinglun Liao1,2, Yancong Feng1,2
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute of Electronic Paper Displays South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Chiral supramolecular assemblies are abundant in nature, but controlling the chirality of artificial systems still remains a challenge. In this work, we developed a system where supramolecular chirality can be controlled between chiral and achiral states, namely a chiral "1/0" switch using a flower-like azobenzene compound with a binaphthol core. Upon photoisomerization by ultraviolet irradiation, the terminal alkyl tails envelop the chiral "centre" with a reduction in the dihedral angle of the binaphthol moiety from 76.1° to 61.4°, like "closing petals". In the doped liquid crystal E7 matrix, this hierarchical conformational transition prevents the transfer of chirality to the host liquid crystal, resulting in a degradation from cholesteric phase (HTP value: 13.84 μm-1 ) to an achiral nematic phase.
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