Self-assembled molecules aldonamides

In this chapter, we have surveyed a wide range of chiral molecules that self-assemble into helical structures. The molecules include aldonamides, cere-brosides, amino acid amphiphiles, peptides, phospholipids, gemini surfactants, and biological and synthetic biles. In all of these systems, researchers observe helical ribbons and tubules, often with helical markings. In certain cases, researchers also observe twisted ribbons, which are variations on helical ribbons with Gaussian rather than cylindrical curvature. These structures have a large-scale helicity which manifests the chirality of the constituent molecules. 

Figure 10 Self-assembled nanotubes can be obtained through a rolling mechanism (chiral molecular packing) or packing directly from the monomer. The structures of amphiphilic molecules used in nanotube formation (a) diacetylenic phospholipids, (b) diacetylenic N-aldonamides, (c, d, and e) glucose glycolipids, (f) sphingolipids, (g) glucophospholipid amphiphiles, (h) amphiphile with a serine head. R and R groups represent a variety of alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups. (Reproduced with permission from Ref. 52. The Chemical...

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