Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Application in Asymmetric Catalysis and Stereoselective Separation

The targeted synthesis of a desired stereomer plays a key role in life sciences, especially in the production of drugs. Up to date, this area is dominated by homogeneous chiral catalysts. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), a new class of porous materials, consisting of metal-oxo-clusters and multifunctional ligands could offer a platform for chiral heterogeneous catalysts combining the efficiency and in particular selectivity observed for homogeneous asymmetric catalysts with the advantages of heterogeneous catalysis. This review summarizes strategies to obtain chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks and gives an overview about reactions that have been successfully conducted using chiral MOFs as asymmetric catalysts. In addition, some examples highlighting the stereoselective adsorption properties of chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks are given.