Hierarchical Self-Assembly of J-Aggregated 1,2-Bis(2-(benzyloxy)benzylidene) Hydrazine@2β-Cyclodextrin into Left-Handed Superhelix and Its External Stimuli-Responsive Unwinding.

Induction of chirality to nanosized superstructures from hierarchical self-assembly of achiral monomeric units is an important area to understand the natural chiral amplification and evolution of life processes. We report herein that the complexation of salicylaldehyde azine, 1,2-bis(2-(benzyloxy)benzylidene)hydrazine (BSAZ), with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in aqueous solution results in the formation of a slipped J-aggregate (θ < 54.7°) that aggregates further into a left-handed superhelix through sterical constraints triggered by the hydrophobic effect.