Spontaneous Resolution to Absolute Chiral Induction: Pseudo-Kagome Type Homochiral Zn(II)/Co(II) Coordination Polymers with Achiral Precursors

It is observed that conglomerate crystallization of achiral precursors yielding racemate metal organic frameworks/coordination polymers (MOFs/CPs) can be driven to absolute homochiral crystallization of the desired enantiomorph by utilizing a suitable chiral induction agent. In a series of crystallization experiments isostructural Zn and Co homochiral CPs (1P, 1M and 2P, 2M) are prepared using the achiral precursors. In the presence of enantiopure camphoric acid, the crystallization process prefers absolute chiral induction over conglomerate formation which is established by single crystal X-ray diffraction and CD spectroscopy.