Chiral recognition molecule complex

Chiral recognition in complexes, linked by hydrogen bonds, has been studied experimentally and theoretically. In some cases, chiral systems can aggregate and form long chains or helix shape structures. The subsequent chemical processes along the chains can invert the chirality of the molecules producing what we have called racemization waves [37]. The control and rationalization of these processes are of the utmost importance in the development of novel molecules designed as switches. 

The optimized complex form of the chiral recognition molecule (CRM 1) of Phase 1 with (R)-acetylalanine methylester is shown in Figure 8.2. The structure optimization was performed using the MM2 program, and the... 

J. M. Lehn and C. Sirlin (1978), Molecular catalysis Enhanced rate of thiolysis with high structural and chiral recognition in complexes of a reactive receptor molecule. Chem. Commun. 949-951. 

The possibility to resolve the two enantiomers of 27a (or 26) by crystalline complexa-tion with optically active 26 (or 27a) is mainly due to differences in topological complementarity between the H-bonded chains of host and guest molecules. In this respect, the spatial relationships which affect optical resolution in the above described coordination-assisted clathrates are similar to those characterizing some optically resolved molecular complexes S4). This should encourage additional applications of the lattice inclusion phenomena to problems of chiral recognition. 

Systems exhibiting chiral recognition. Complexation of an optically active guest molecule (+)G or (-)G by a chiral host (—)H may be represented as follows ... 

One may use the stronger term chirality discrimination when a substantial suppression of one intermolecular diastereomer with respect to the other occurs. This requires multiple strong interactions between the two molecular units and therefore more than simple monofunctional alcohols. Some examples where one of the molecules involved is a chiral alkanol are reported in Refs. 112 and 119 121. Pronounced cases of higher-order chirality discrimination have been observed in clusters of hydroxy esters such as methyl lactate tetramers [122] and in protonated serine octamers [15,123,124]. The presence of an alcohol functionality appears to be favorable for accentuated chirality discrimination phenomena even in these complex systems [113,123,125,126]. Because the border between chirality recognition and discrimination is quite undefined, it is suggested that the two may be used synonymously whenever both molecular partners are permanently chiral [127]. 

Several CD derivatives (charged and uncharged) are available which should allow the separation of most chiral molecules with at least one of them. However, due to the complexity of chiral recognition mechanisms, the determination of the best selector based on the analyte structure is challenging. Eurthermore, separations using CDs are influenced by numerous factors, so that no general rule can be applied for the successful resolution of enantiomers. ... 

A chiral selector can also be dissolved in the IL solvent and be subsequently coated on the capillary wall [38]. In this approach, the achiral [C4CiIm]Cl was used to dissolve permethylated p-cyclodextrin (p-PM) and dimethylated P-cyclodextrin (p-DM). The chromatographic separations obtained from these two columns were compared to two commercially available CSPs based on p-PM and p-DM dissolved in polydimethylsiloxane. From a set of 64 chiral molecules separafed by fhe commercial p-PM column, only 21 of the molecules were enantioresolved by the IL-based p-PM column. Likewise, from a collecfion of 80 analytes separated by the p-DM column, only 16 analytes could be separated on the IL-based p-DM column. The authors also noted a considerable enhancement in the separation efficiency of fhe IL-based CSPs. This resulf, coupled to fhe loss of enantioselecfivify for mosf separations, suggests that the imidazolium cation may occupy the cavity of the cyclodextrin preventing the analyte-cyclodextrin inclusion complex-ation that is crucial for chiral recognition. The ability for ILs to form inclusion complexes wifh cyclodextrin molecules has been recently studied by Tran and coworkers using near-infrared spectromefry [39]. 

Mechanism of Separation. There are several requirements for chiral recognition. (/) Formation of an inclusion complex between the solute and the cydodextrin cavity is needed (4,10). This has been demonstrated by performing a normal-phase separation, eg, using hexane—isopropanol mobile phase, on a J3-CD column. The enantiomeric solute is then restricted to the outside surface of the cydodextrin cavity because the hydrophobic solvent occupies the interior of the cydodextrin. (2) The inclusion complex formed should provide a rdatively "tight fit" between the hydrophobic species and the cydodextrin cavity. This is evident by the fact that J3-CD exhibits better enantioselectivity for molecules the size of biphenyl or naphthalene than it does for smaller molecules. Smaller compounds are not as rigidly held and appear to be able to move in such a manner that they experience the same average environment. (5) The chiral center, or a substituent attached to the chiral center, must be near to and interact with the mouth of the cydodextrin cavity. When these three requirements are fulfilled the possibility of chiral recognition is favorable. 

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