The weak magnetic field inhibits the supramolecular self-ordering of chiral molecules

Triggering gel-sol transition by weak magnetic field

The self-assembly of small and always chiral molecules into fiber-like structures is a mysterious process, as the physics underlying such self-assembly is unclear. The energy necessary for this process exceeds the one provided by common dispersion interactions and hydrogen bonding. The recent results obtained by the scientific group of Prof. Naaman from the Weizmann Institute of Science fed light on the nature of forces providing for the self-assembly of chiral molecules and attributed these forces to spin-exchange interactions. Therefore, the self-assembly of chiral molecules should be magneto-sensitive. We found such sensitivity in solutions of trifluoroacetylated α -amino alcohols, and the process was inhibited by the magnetic field when fibers grew on the surface of the substrate. On the contrary, in bulk, the self-assembly was enhanced by the magnetic field and led to the formation of a dense gel, while no gelation was observed in the absence of the external magnetic field. The latter observations are the theme of this short report, aimed to declare the effect itself but not pretend to describe it in full.

Magnetic field and nuclear spin influence on the DNA synthesis rate

The rate of a chemical reaction can be sensitive to the isotope composition of the reactants, which provides also for the sensitivity of such "spin-sensitive" reactions to the external magnetic field. Here we demonstrate the effect of the external magnetic field on the enzymatic DNA synthesis together with the effect of the spin-bearing magnesium ions ([Formula: see text]Mg). The rate of DNA synthesis monotonously decreased with the external magnetic field induction increasing in presence of zero-spin magnesium ions ([Formula: see text]Mg). On the contrary, in the presence of the spin-bearing magnesium ions, the dependence of the reaction rate on the magnetic field induction was non-monotonous and possess a distinct minimum at 80-100 mT. To describe the observed effect, we suggested a chemical scheme and biophysical mechanism considering a competition between Zeeman and Fermi interactions in the external magnetic field.

A gel lattice alters the phase state of a solvent

Some low-molecular-weight substances are able to self-assemble into fiber-like structures (strings) to form gels. One of the examples of such substances is trifluoroacetylated alpha-aminoalcohols (TFAAAs) able to gelate in many organic solvents. Here we report the formation and describe the properties of a layer of an altered solvent covering the strings' surface. The altered solvent layer has a different refractive index and melts at a temperature about several degrees lower than that of the bulk solvent. Moreover, the bulk solvent's melting temperature was also decreased by values far beyond the one expected according to Raoult's law. Based on the Gibbs-Thomson equation it is possible to derive the thickness of the special layer as well as the average gel lattice parameters, which were very stable across the variety of systems investigated.

Role of the Exchange Interactions in the Stability of the Cellulose

The problem of the origin of biochirality and the related problem of the initial monomers' selection are still under discussion, and the main point here is not the mechanics of...

On the mechanism of effectively chiral-pure macromolecular spiralization induced by a weakly chiral polarized heterochiral solution of a chiral compound

There has been made an assumption, correlating with experimental data, that the phenomenon of effectively chiral-pure, chiral-induced spiralization of macromolecules in weakly polarized heterochiral solutions is determined by the mechanism of physico-chemical annihilation: enantiomers-antipodes of a chiral compound in a heterochiral solution annihilate; that is, they form achiral dimers, the solution becomes effectively homochiral and further, chiral-induced macromolecular spiralization of one sign of helicity is realized in it in the same way as in other homochiral solutions.