Chiral recognition in noncovalent bonding interactions between helicenes: right-handed helix favors right-handed helix over left-handed helix.

Our studies of helicenes are summarized in regard to chiral recognition phenomenon in noncovalent bonding interactions. The interactions between helical molecules show a tendency for pairs of the same configuration of the helicenes to form more stable complexes than pairs of enantiomeric helicenes. The observations are made in charge transfer complexation, crystallization, homocoupling reaction, layer structure formation, self-aggregation, and double helix formation. The interactions between a helicene and a right-handed helical polymer, double strand DNA, are also described.