A novel homochiral metal–organic framework with an expanded open cage based on (R)-3,3′-bis(6-carboxy-2-naphthyl)-2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl: synthesis, X-ray structure and efficient HPLC enantiomer separation

Abstract

A new homochiral metal–organic framework (MOF) with an expanded open cage based on the (R)-3,3′-bis(6-carboxy-2-naphthyl)-2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl ligand was synthesized and utilized as a novel chiral stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography. Twelve racemates including sec-alcohols, sulfoxides, epoxides, lactone, 1,3-dioxolan-2-one, and oxazolidinone were used as analytes for evaluating the separation properties of the chiral-MOF-packed column. Experimentally, the homochiral MOF offered good molecular recognition ability, which suggests good prospects for the application of chiral MOFs as stationary phases for enantioseparation.