Detection and memory of nonracemic molecules by a racemic host polymer film

Robust syndiotactic polystyrene films, presenting a suitable nanoporous host crystalline phase, are able to transfer, amplify, and memorize the chirality of nonracemic low-molecular-mass molecules. In fact, after temporary exposure to volatile nonracemic guests, the polymer films present intense induced circular dichroism (ICD) phenomena. These ICD phenomena are associated with the temporary formation of polymer/guest cocrystalline phases.