Chiral Ionbinding in Amphiphilic Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Abstract The chirality in three amphiphilic cholesteric liquid crystal samples, prepared from three different detergents each synthesised from a chiral precursor with the S configuration is investigated. Diastereoisomers, resulting from the interaction of the D- and L-alanine enantiomers with the chiral micelle surface have been visualized using NMR. The sign of the optical rotation in each sample is determined using a polarizing microscope. Laser diffraction twist measurements are also made. Inversions in the headgroup and in the alanine enantiomers configuration in respect to chirality are discussed.