9-Anthracenecarboxylate bound to aqueous dispersions of the helical superstructure of bilayers of chiral double-chain ammonium amphiphiles exhibited very large induced circular dichroism ([theta] approximate to 10(7) deg.cm(2).dmol(-1)). This arises from strong exciton coupling among the chromophores bound to the chiral bilayer surface and disappears completely upon warming to temperatures above crystal-to-liquid crystal phase transition of the bilayer. The intensity of induced circular dichroism at the helical bilayer matrix was compared with those in nonhelical bilayer dispersions.