Enantioselective Transport of Amino Acid Salts through Polymer/ (Liquid Crystal) Composite Thin Film Containing Chiral Crown Ether

Abstract

A polymer/ (liquid crystal) composite thin film containing chiral crown ether was prepared by a water casting method. In this film, liquid crystalline material formed a continuous phase in a fibrillar network of the matrix polymer. Therefore, the liquid crystalline phase could be a low-viscosity diffusion phase for carriers. The permeation characteristics for D-and L-isomers of amino acid salt through the composite thin film were investigated. The ternary composite thin film exhibited a high ability of optical resolution for D-and L-amino acid salts and a large flux due to thinning preparation of the ultrathin composite film. Furthermore, it is suggested that the chiral helical alignment in a nematic phase was induced by addition of CR molecules, also fairly enhancing the efficiency of optical resolution.