Separation of enantiomers in a diol monolayer studied by fluorescence microscopy and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction

Monolayers of a racemic mixture and of the pure S- and R-enantiomers of 3-hexadecyloxy-propane-1,2-diol have been investigated by fluorescence microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. Above the transition pressure Π^c domains with a polygonal shape appear. On compressing the monolayers shape instabilities occur. While the spirals of the S-enantiomer turn clockwise and the spirals of the R-enantiomer turn counterclockwise, the spirals from one domain of the racemate exhibit opposite handedness. This behaviour is explained by a separation of enantiomers on the molecular level. At all pressures investigated the enantiomers exhibit an oblique lattice. The tilt angle of the molecules decreases with increasing pressure.