On the origin of helical mesostructures

The investigation on the formation mechanism of helical structures and the synthesis of helical materials is attractive for scientists in different fields. Here we report the synthesis of helical mesoporous materials with chiral channels in the presence of achiral surfactants. More importantly, we suggest a simple and purely interfacial interaction mechanism to explain the spontaneous formation of helical mesostructures. Unlike the proposed model for the formation of helical molecular chains or surpramolecular packing based on the geometrically motivated model or the entropically driven model, the origin of the helical mesostructured materials may be attributed to a morphological transformation accompanied by a reduction in surface free energy. After the helical morphology is formed, the increase in bending energy together with the derivation from a perfect hexagonal mesostructure may limit the curvature of helices. Our model may be general and important in the designed synthesis of helical mesoporous materials.     

Production of aligned helical polymer nanofibers by electrospinning

A new and simple electrospinning method has been developed for producing aligned helical polymer nanofibers. Aligned helical polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were prepared by this method. The helical fibers were collected by a tilted glass slide. The morphology and loop diameters of the helical structures are dependant on the PCL solution concentration and the loop diameters are in the range of 6.9-14.9 μm for the concentration range of 4.7%-10%. The three-dimensional helical structures were obtained at the high solution concentration of 10%. These helical structures were formed by jet buckling due to mechanical instability when hitting collector surface. Formation of the helical structures is dependent on the obliquity of the tilted glass slide and distance away from the syringe needle. The converging electrical field generated by a tip collector plays an important role in the alignment of the helical structures.     

Helical carbon and graphitic films prepared from iodine-doped helical polyacetylene film using morphology-retaining carbonization

In this communication, we report a novel preparation of the helical carbon nanofibril-fabricated thin film from the iodine-doped filmy helical polyacetylene through a carbonization process. Carbonization of the helical polyacetylene films by way of iodine doping is found to afford carbon and graphitic films completely preserving morphologies and even helical nanofibril structures.     

Synthesis,characterization, and application of helical polymers

This review mainly describes the asymmetric synthesis of optically active polymers with helical conformation. Bulky methacrylates such as triphenylmethyl methacrylate and 1-phenyldibenzosuberyl methacrylate give one-handed helical and optically active polymers with almost perfectly isotactic main chain conformation by polymerization with chiral anionic initiators. The radical polymerization and copolymerization of these monomers under chiral conditions also afford optically active polymers with prevailing one-handed helicity. N, N-Disubstituted acrylamides also give optically active, helical polymers in the asymmetric anionic polymerization. Optically active polyisocyanates with a prevailing one-handed helical structure have been prepared in the copolymerization of an achiral isocyanate with a small amount of an optically active isocyanate and also in the polymerization of alkyl and aromatic isocyanates with optically active lithium alkoxide or amide compounds. The existence of a stable helical structure for polychloral has been successfully proved with the helical oligomers of chloral. One-handed helical polyisocyanides have been prepared by helix-sense-selective polymerization of bulky isocyanides and also by the cyclopolymerization of a 1, 2-diisocyanobenzene derivative with the Pd complex of a one-handed helical oligomer.     

One-Handed Helical Tubular Ladder Polymers for Chromatographic Enantioseparation**

Defect-free one-handed contracted helical tubular ladder polymers with a π-electron-rich cylindrical helical cavity were synthesized by alkyne benzannulations of the random-coil precursor polymers containing 6,6′-linked-1,1′-spirobiindane-7,7′-diol-based chiral monomer units. The resulting tightly-twisted helical tubular ladder polymers showed remarkably high enantioseparation abilities toward a variety of chiral hydrophobic aromatics with point, axial, and planar chiralities. The random-coil precursor polymer and analogous rigid-rod extended helical ribbon-like ladder polymer with no internal helical cavity exhibited no resolution abilities. The molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the π-electron-rich cylindrical helical cavity formed in the tightly-twisted tubular helical ladder structures is of key importance for producing the highly-enantioseparation ability, by which chiral aromatics can be enantioselectively encapsulated by specific π-π and/or hydrophobic interactions.     

Synthesis of mesoporous silica helical fibers using a catanionic-neutral ternary surfactant in a highly dilute silica solution: biomimetic silicification

Mesoporous silica helical fibers in many different shapes have been synthesized in a highly dilute silicate solution at pH approximately 2.0 by using CnTMAB-SDS-P123 (n = 14-18) ternary surfactant as a template. The mesoporous silica helical fibers possess a well-ordered hexagonal mesostructure, high surface area, and large pore volume. Thus, the microtome sections of the helical fibers demonstrate a concentric mesotructure or two hemiconcentric mesostructures. In addition to triblock copolymer, adding the proper amount of 1-butanol or pentanol can promote the yield of the helical fibers as well. The yield of the surfactant-templated helical fibers is also dependent on the water content, reaction temperature, and pH value of the solution. The mesoporous silica helical fiber can be used as a solid template to prepare mesoporous carbon helical fibers via impregnation of phenol-formaldehyde, pyrolysis, and silica removal.     

Three-dimensional helical coordination networks of a hexanuclear manganese metallamacrocycle as a helical tecton

We report on helical coordination networks that were prepared using a hexanuclear manganese metallamacrocycle as a helical tecton. We were able to prepare the three-dimensional helical coordination networks using a hexanuclear manganese metallamacrocycle, [Mn(6)(lshz)(6)], as a helical tecton, where N-lauroyl salicylhydrazide (H(3)lshz) was used as the primary building unit to generate the helical tecton as a secondary building unit. While the 4(1)/4(3) screw symmetry-linked helical coordination network was obtained when the primary building units had an N-acetyl group, both the 3(1)/3(2) screw symmetry-linked and the 4(1)/4(3) screw symmetry-linked helical coordination networks were obtained simultaneously in the same batch when the primary building unit had a long alkyl N-lauroyl group at the N-acetyl site.     

Hierarchically controlled helical graphite films prepared from iodine-doped helical polyacetylene films using morphology-retaining carbonization

One-handed helical graphite films with a hierarchically controlled morphology were prepared from iodine-doped helical polyacetylene (H-PA) films using the recently developed morphology-retaining carbonization method. Results from scanning electron microscopy indicate that the hierarchical helical morphology of the H-PA film remains unchanged even after carbonization at 800 °C. The weight loss of the film due to carbonization was very small; only 10-29% of the weight of the film before doping was lost. Furthermore, the graphite film prepared by subsequent heating at 2600 °C retained the same morphology as that of the original H-PA film and that of the helical carbon film prepared at 800 °C. The screwed direction, twisted degree, and vertical or horizontal alignment of the helical graphite film were well controlled by changing the helical sense, helical pitch, and orientation state of the chiral nematic liquid crystal (N*-LC) used as an asymmetric LC reaction field. X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements showed that graphitic crystallization proceeds in the carbon film during heat treatment at 2600 °C. Transmission electron microscopy measurements indicate that ultrasonication of the helical graphite film in ethanol for several hours gives rise to a single helical graphite fibril. The profound potentiality of the present graphite films is exemplified in their electrical properties. The horizontally aligned helical graphite film exhibits an enhancement in electrical conductivity and an evolution of electrical anisotropy in which conductivity parallel to the helical axis of the fibril bundle is higher than that perpendicular to the axis.     

Generation of Helical States – Breaking of Symmetries,Curie's Principle,and Excited States**

Herein, we deeply detail for the very first time mathematical concepts behind the generation of helical molecular orbitals (MOs) for linear chains of atoms. We first give a definition of helical MOs and we provide an index measuring how far a given helical states is from a perfect helical distribution. Structural properties of helical distribution for twisted -cumulene and cumulene version of Möbius systems are given. We then give some simple structural assumptions as well as symmetry requirements ensuring the existence of helical MOs. Considering molecules which do not admit helical MOs, we provide a first way to induce helical states by the breaking of symmetries. We also explore an alternative way using excited conformations of given molecules as well as different electronic multiplicities.     

Dispersion and current-voltage characteristics of helical polyacetylene single fibers

To study the transport properties of individual helical polyacetylene (PA) fibers, we developed a method to extract a single fiber from tightly entangled ropes of helical PA bulk film. After a few minutes of sonication of a piece of helical PA bulk film in an organic solution containing surfactant, a droplet of solution is deposited on the pre-pattened electrode under argon atmosphere. AFM images show that extracted helical PA fibers are typically 10 mum in length and 100-200 nm in diameter. We found that the helicity of bulk materials is conserved. We present the temperature dependencies of current-voltage characteristics of individual helical PA fibers doped with iodine.     

Helical Polymer as Mimetic Enzyme Catalyzing Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

This Communication reports optically active helical substituted polyacetylenes which solely catalyzed asymmetric Aldol reaction between cyclohexanone and p‐nitrobenzaldehyde; more importantly the helical structures are found to play crucial roles in the asymmetric catalysis, with a remarkable yield and ee (both up to 80%). A synergic effect is observed between the helical structures in the polymer main chains and the pendent prolinamide moieties for successfully catalyzing the asymmetric reaction. The role of the helical polymer backbones is further verified by tuning the relative helical structure content.     

Chiral Recognition and Resolution Based on Helical Polymers

Helical polymers have attracted a great deal of attention and been extensively investigated due to their various applications.One of the most important applications of helical polymers is chiral recognition and resolution of enantiomers for the reason that a pair of enantiomers is commonly with different physiological and toxicological behaviors in biological systems.Helical polymers usually present unexpected high chiral recognition ability to a variety of racemic compounds.What's more,the chiral recognition and resolution abilities of the system are dependent on the highly ordered helical structures of the helical polymers.This mini review mainly focuses on the recent progress in chiral recognition and resolution based on helical polymers.The synthetic methodology for helical polymers is firstly discussed briefly.Then recent advances of chiral recognition and resolution systems based on helical polymers,especially polyacetylenes and polyisocyanides,are described.We hope this mini review will inspire more interest in developing helical polymers and encourage further advances in chiral-related disciplines.     

Helical heterojunctions originating from helical inversion of conducting polymer nanofibers

The helical sense of conducting polyaniline nanofibers was induced using chiral acid as dopant, which can be inversed through a copolymerization of aniline with N-methyl aniline. By delicately controlling the inversion driving force of steric hindrance, we successfully obtained "helical heterojunctions" composed of right- and left-handed helical structures in one helical nanofiber.     

Control of the Induced Handedness of Helical Nanofilaments Employing Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Fields

In this paper, a simple and powerful method to control the induced handedness of helical nanofilaments (HNFs) is presented. The nanofilaments are formed by achiral bent-core liquid crystal molecules employing a cholesteric liquid crystal field obtained by doping a rod-like nematogen with a chiral dopant. Homochiral helical nanofilaments are formed in the nanophase-separated helical nanofilament/cholesteric phase from a mixture with a cholesteric phase. This cholesteric phase forms at a temperature higher than the temperature at which the helical nanofilament in a bent-core molecule appears. Under such conditions, the cholesteric liquid crystal field acts as a driving force in the nucleation of HNFs, realizing a perfectly homochiral domain consisting of identical helical nanofilament handedness.     

Catalytic uses of helicenes displaying phosphorus functions

This review presents an updated state of art of the catalytic uses of chiral phosphorus compounds characterized by a helical scaffold as the key stereogenic element of their structures. These include both helical scaffolds with appended phosphorus functions and helical scaffolds with embedded phosphorus-containing rings (phosphahelicenes). Catalytic applications of helical phosphines in both transition metal catalysis and organocatalysis are presented.     

具有多向螺旋结构的碳纳米纤维

The nanocarbonaceous material with helical structure is considered to be promising as nanocoils. Both left and right-handed helical structures normally coexist and are disordered. So far， there has been no report about double or multi-directional helical structures on an individual nanomaterial. In this paper， Multi-directional helical structures were observed in an individual carbon nanofiber during the pyrolysis of acetylene at a mixture of C₂H₂∶H₂=2∶1. It is possible to control and prepare multi-directional helical nanomaterial， and it can be used into new application area.     

Preparation of biocarbon micro coils

ABSTRACT

A novel synthetic polymer-plant-precursor carbonization technique was developed. Carbon micro coils were prepared by the carbonization of plant helical vessels coated with polyaniline or poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid). The helical vessels served as a helical guide, while the synthetic polymers coated on the vessel surface, which consisted of cellulose, were transformed into carbon material while retaining the helical form. The helical carbon material was prepared without the use of an organic gas or solvents through a relatively simple and convenient process. This technique involved the application of natural resources, the synthesis of a conducting polymer, and carbon science. The biocarbon micro coils thus prepared in this study were characterized by infrared absorption, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the magnetic properties of the helical carbon were examined by electron spin resonance and a superconducting quantum interference device that proved its paramagnetic features. Additionally, the water transport function in the helical vessels was discussed.     

Induction of Helical Structure by Sesamin,and Production of Oriented Helical Polymer with Liquid Crystal Magneto‐Electrochemical Polymerization

Sesamin was employed as a chiral dopant for preparing cholesteric liquid crystals with right‐handed helical architecture. Helical twisting power of sesamin is to be 13.4 μm^?1. Electrochemical polymerizations were carried out with sesamin‐induced cholesteric liquid crystal electrolyte solution for obtaining conjugated polymer films with helical structure. The film was transcribed the helical order from the liquid crystal electrolyte solution with helical structure produced by sesamin during the polymerization process. The helical axes of the macromolecular superstructure of the polymer films were oriented in a magnetic field of 4.5 T. This results demonstrated liquid crystal magneto‐electrochemical polymerization with helical structure induced by sesamin as a natural chiral compound. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1894–1899     

螺旋结构与旋光性 Ⅰ.螺旋结构和旋光方向

本文分析了旋光性分子中的螺旋结构,由此得出结论:螺旋结构是引起旋光性的根本原因。右手螺旋一定为右旋的,左手螺旋一定为左旋的。当分子内存在螺旋结构,而这些螺旋结构的旋光性不能完全相互抵消时,这个分子一定有旋光性。从螺旋方向可以预测旋光方向,知道旋光方向以预测螺旋方向,进而预测化合物的构型。     

Helical Toroids Self-Assembled from a Binary System of Polypeptide Homopolymer and its Block Copolymer

Toroids and helices are fundamental geometrical structures in nature. Polymers can self-assemble into various nanostructures, including both toroids and helices; however, nanostructures combining toroidal and helical morphologies (that is, helical toroids) are rarely observed. A binary system is reported containing polypeptide homopolymer and its block copolymer, which can hierarchically self-assemble into uniform helical nanotoroids in solution. The formation of the helical toroids is a successive two-step process. First, the homopolymers aggregate into fibrils and convolve into toroids, thereby resembling the toroidal condensation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) chains. Second, the block copolymers self-assemble on the homopolymer toroids and result in helical surface patterns. Additionally, the chirality of the surface helical patterns can be varied by the chirality of the polypeptide block copolymers.