Molecular origin for helical winding of fibrils formed by perfluorinated gelators

Abstract

A chiral low-molecular weight gelator, N,N'-diperfluoroheptanoyl-1,2(R,R)- or -1,2(S,S)-diaminocyclohexane, was prepared to form a gel of acetonitrile. The conformation of the gelator in fibrils was determined by vibrational circular dichroism spectra, providing a molecular model for self-assembly in a helical fibril.