Crystal engineering for molecular dynamics

Abstract

Molecules of some achiral compounds are arranged in a chiral form in their own crystals. When achiral molecules cannot be arranged in a chiral form in the crystal, they can be arranged in a chiral form in inclusion complex crystals with a chiral host compound. Reaction of the inclusion complex in the solid state gives the optically active compound. Some new examples of these enantioselective reactions will be discussed. By inclusion complexation with a host compound, molecules can be accommodated in one form in inclusion crystals. By this method, tautomerism and equilibrium can be frozen and one tautomer and configurational or conformational isomer may be isolated in a pure state. X-Ray analytical and CD spectral studies of these isolated isomers will also be discussed.