Dynamical VCD for Sol–Gel Transformation

This chapter describes the application of VCD to the dynamical processes of sol–gel transformation using a chiral low molecular weight gelator. The growth mechanism of a gel fibril is investigated by means of “time-step” VCD measurements. For the measurements, a homogeneous “sol” solution kept at the temperature above Tc (sol–gel transformation temperature) is poured onto a cell. On cooling the sample, the sol–gel transformation is pursued by monitoring the change of VCD spectra at the interval of ca. 0.5 min. The obtained results are analyzed according to the theory describing the growth of supramolecular chirality followed by the formation of a molecular array.