Halogen bond-modulated solid-state reordering and symmetry breaking of azahelicenes

Juncong Liang, Fuwei Gan, Guoli Zhang, Chengshuo Shen () and Huibin Qiu ()
Additional contact information
Juncong Liang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Fuwei Gan: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Guoli Zhang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Chengshuo Shen: Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
Huibin Qiu: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Spontaneous symmetry breaking predominately occurs during the aggregation of discrete molecules in solution. Herein, we report a unique solid-state symmetry breaking process of dynamically chiral aza[4]helicenes that emerged in vacuum-driven transformation of halogen bond-woven crystals. Due to the weak feature of the halogen bonding, the halides in the cocrystals can be completely removed under vacuum at an elevated temperature. Interestingly, the aza[4]helicene molecules released from the halogen bond network solely adopt one chiral conformation upon reordering and symmetry breaking instantly occurs in a solid state. The Cotton effects gradually increase with the extension of vacuum–heating treatment, indicating a unidirectional transformation of the chiral conformations and an amplification of symmetry breaking during the solid-state reorganization. Moreover, the use of aza[6]helicene as a chiral inducer further enables a precise manipulation for the absolute configuration of the solid-state symmetry breaking, paving a distinctive route to chiral organic materials from achiral/racemic precursors.

Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59222-2 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59222-2

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59222-2

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().