A multivalent hexapod having 24 stereogenic centers: chirality and conformational dynamics in homochiral and heterochiral systems

The monolayer formation of a chiral oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)-substituted hexaarylbenzene with 24 stereogenic centers is investigated at the interface between a liquid and a solid substrate, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) reveals that molecular chirality is expressed at the supramolecular level. When both enantiomers are co-adsorbed on the surface, a racemic conglomerate is formed. Both enantiomers and their mixtures show interesting conformational and translational dynamics at the liquid-solid interface, giving insight into expression of chirality, nucleation and monolayer growth.