Atomistic Computer Modelling of Chiral Pillared Clays

Lattice energy minimisation techniques have been used to study the 2D molecular organisation of [Ru(bpy)₃]2+ and [Ru(phen)₃]2+ confined in the interlamellar space of low charged smectites with respect to the stereochemistry of the pillars and the charge distribution within the host. With racemic pillars, favourable π-stackings lead to clustering of pillars even with homogeneously charged smectites. Long range and/or short range ordering of the isomorphous substitution within the silicate layer strongly influences the interlayer structure, since host-guest interactions are dominated by electrostatics.