Memory of macromolecular helicity assisted by interaction with achiral small molecules

Eiji Yashima (), Katsuhiro Maeda and Yoshio Okamoto
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Eiji Yashima: Form and Function, Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Corporation
Katsuhiro Maeda: Department of Molecular Design and Engineering
Yoshio Okamoto: Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University

Nature, 1999, vol. 399, issue 6735, 449-451

Abstract: Abstract The helicity of biological macromolecules such as DNA and proteins is largely governed by the homochirality of their components (D-sugars and L-amino acids). In polymer and supramolecular chemistry, control of helicity is an attractive goal because of possible applications in materials science, chemical sensing and enantioselective catalysis1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13. We reported recently that macromolecular helicity can be induced in a polymer by an optically active amine14. Here we show that this helicity can be ‘memorized’ when the amine is replaced by various achiral amines. Although the maintenance of helicity in the polymer is not perfect, it can ‘repair’ itself over time. Small structural changes in the achiral amines influence the efficiency of helicity retention markedly.

Date: 1999
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DOI: 10.1038/20900

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