The separation of racemic crystals into enantiomers by chiral block copolymers.
A series of chiral double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCs) was synthesized and employed as additives in the crystallization of calcium tartrate tetrahydrate (CaT). We found that appropriate polymers can slow down the formation of the thermodynamically most stable racemic crystals as well as the formation of one of the pure enantiomeric crystals so that chiral separation by crystallization occurs even when racemic crystals can be formed. In addition, the presence of DHBCs results in major modifications of crystal morphology, creating unusual morphologies of higher complexity. Our study demonstrates the potential application of chiral DHBCs in the control of chirality throughout crystallization, in particular for racemic crystal systems, and also shows that enantiomeric excess of one enantiomer can be maximized by the kinetic control of crystallization.
Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Postdam, Germany. mastai@mpikg-golm.mpg.de
Yitzhak
Y
Mastai
Milos
M
Sedlák
Helmut
H
Cölfen
Markus
M
Antonietti
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003460:Crystallization; D009904:Optical Rotation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013644:Tartrates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000596:Amino Acids; D001685:Biological Factors; D011108:Polymers; D013644:Tartrates; C029768:tartaric acid