Volume 132, Issue 47 pp. 21110-21115
Zuschrift

Enantioselective Crystallization of Chiral Inorganic Crystals of ϵ-Zn(OH)2 with Amino Acids

Gil Otis

Gil Otis

Department of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002 Israel

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Molhm Nassir

Molhm Nassir

Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002 Israel

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Michael Zutta

Michael Zutta

Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002 Israel

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Abed Saady

Abed Saady

Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002 Israel

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Prof. Sharon Ruthstein

Corresponding Author

Prof. Sharon Ruthstein

Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002 Israel

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Prof. Yitzhak Mastai

Corresponding Author

Prof. Yitzhak Mastai

Department of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002 Israel

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First published: 09 August 2020
Citations: 4

Abstract

Many inorganic materials can form crystals, but little is known about their enantioselective crystallization. Herein, we report on the enantioselective crystallization of ϵ-Zn(OH)2 (Wulfingite) chiral crystals by using amino acids. Crystals of ϵ-Zn(OH)2 were crystallized from supersaturated sodium hydroxide and zinc nitrate aqueous solutions in the presence of l- or d-arginine. All of the chiral measurements, such as selective chiral adsorption by circular dichroism (CD), chiral chromatography, and polarimetry measurements, clearly show chiral discrimination during the crystallization of ϵ-Zn(OH)2. In addition, a new method has been developed for identifying chirality in crystals by using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Although the values of chiral induction of the ϵ-Zn(OH)2 crystals obtained are somewhat low, these values are still significant because they demonstrate that enantioselectivity during the crystallization of chiral inorganic crystals with chiral additives can be achieved. The method can be applied to many chiral inorganic systems. Understanding and controlling the crystallization of chiral inorganic crystals is important for gaining knowledge on the interaction of chiral molecules with inorganic surfaces. This knowledge can lead to an understanding of basic scientific questions such as the evolution of homochirality in biomolecules and the development of chiral inorganic crystals for a variety of purposes such as asymmetric catalysis and optical applications.

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