Preparation and characterization of new chirally modified laponites

Chirally modified hectorites (laponite RD) were prepared by ion exchange wi th (R)- and (S)-N-alkyl-phenylethyl ammonium salts. The structure of the ch iral clay-organocomplexes were studied by X-ray diffraction and FT-IR-spect roscopy. Due to the Low charge density of the laponite the organic modifier s lay on the inner surface of lamellae, no pillaring effect was observed. U sing the chiral nanoreactors obtained in a catalytic process enantiodiffere ntiation was observed.