Aggregation-Induced Chirality: Twist and Stacking Handedness of the Biphenylene Groups of n-C12H25O-BP-CO-Ala-Ala Dipeptides

In mixtures of water and dimethyl sulfoxide, 4′-(n-dodecyloxy)-1,1′-biphenyl-4-carbonyl Ala–Ala dipeptides can self-assemble into tubular structures that are formed by coiled nanoribbons. The twist and stacking handedness of biphenylene groups were studied using circular dichroism and confirmed by theoretical chemical calculations. The handedness of the coiled nanoribbons and the stacking handedness of biphenylene groups are controlled by the chirality of alanine at the C-terminus, whereas the twist handedness of biphenylene groups is determined by the chirality of alanine at the N-terminus. 1H NMR spectra indicated that the hydrogen bond formed by the N–H group of alanine at the N-terminus plays an important role in the formation of organic self-assemblies. On the basis of small-angle X-ray scattering characterization, a dimer structure was proposed to form through the terminal COOH groups.