Supramolecular chirality in crystalline assemblies of bile acids and their derivatives; Three-axial, tilt, helical, and bundle chirality

Steroidal bile acids and their derivatives exhibit characteristic inclusion behaviors in the crystalline state. Their crystals present varied assemblies due to asymmetric molecular structures, which relate to supramolecular properties through cooperative weak interactions. An overview indicates that the steroidal assemblies lie in an intermediate position among various molecules and have hierarchical structures such as primary, secondary, tertiary, and host-guest assemblies like proteins. Such an interpretation brought about the idea that the assemblies with dimensionality present supramolecular chirality such as three-axial, tilt, helical, bundle, and complementary chirality. This concept of the supramolecular chirality enables us to understand formation of chiral crystals starting from the molecular chirality of the steroidal molecules.