AN INVERSION OF CHIRALITY AT A CHIRAL MICELLE SURFACE

Two chiral quaternary ammonium bromide detergents S-1,2- and S-2,1-N-h exadecyl-N, N-dimethyl propanol bromide with the same S molecular conf iguration which are constituent isomers have been synthesised. They we re used to prepare Amphiphillic Cholesteric Liquid Crrstal (ACLC) samp les where the molecular stereochemistry in respect to the micelle surf ace was inverted in respect to one another. Concomitant inversions in the sign of the optical rotation were found using the polarising micro scope. Laser diffraction was used to determine the twists in these ACL C samples, which were found to be exceptionally small. The small twist s were thought to be the result of the hydroxyl group in the chiral am phiphillic head group pushing the chiral centres apart.