CRYSTAL ENGINEERING IN 2 DIMENSIONS - CONTROL OF PLANAR PACKING BY DESIGN OF NEW AMPHIPHILES

Monolayers on mica of two rigid amphiphiles of specific cross-sectiona l geometry have been studied by atomic force microscopy and are ordere d over micron scale areas. An interlocking amphiphile shows disruption into crystalline shards on transfer from the aqueous subphase. A chir al amphiphile retains its integrity when transferred from the intermed iate pressure phase but exhibits catastrophic changes when transferred from the high pressure phase. The results imply that the interlocked amphiphile has the same structure for both aqueous and solid subphases . The phases exhibited by the chiral amphiphile on mica are probably n ot those observed on the aqueous subphase.