Covalent bonds, topological chirality

Limitations on the application of hydrogen bonded capsular assemblies come from the poor stability of these assemblies in polar media compared to those held by covalent bonds. In an attempt to overcome these Umitations, Bohmer described the synthesis of a mechanically locked chiral bis-catenane based on calixarene capsules [55]. Inspired by this pioneering work, our group produced a mechanically locked hybrid tetraurea calix[4]arene-calix[4]pyrrole capsule 30 (Fig. 32.14) [56]. This catenated capsule displayed reversible encapsulation (i.e. reversible assembly of the urea belt). The two hemispheres of the capsule never dissociate completely due to the bis-catenated topology. 

The third section describes the hierarchy and supramolecular chirality of molecular assemblies in the crystalline state. The steroidal molecules construct hierarchical assemblies on the basis of sequential information, as in the case of proteins. The notable feature is that each hierarchical assembly exhibits supramolecular chirality, such as three-axial, tilt, helical, and bundle chirality. On the other hand, the primary ammonium salts construct hierarchical hydrogen bonding networks which, in some cases, create supramolecular chirality from achiral components. The creation of chirality can be interpreted from a topological viewpoint, leading us to define the handedness of the supramolecular chirality. At the end of this section we present the general concept that molecular-level information on organic substances can be expressed by their assemblies through non-covalent interactions. 

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