HPLC enantioseparation on a homochiral MOF–silica composite as a novel chiral stationary phase

Abstract

The last frontier in the development of chiral stationary phases for chromatographic enantioseparation involves homochiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Using enantiopure (R)-2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthalene-6,6′-dicarboxylic acid as a starting material, we prepared three homochiral MOFs that were further used as chiral stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography to separate the enantiomers of various kinds of racemic sulfoxides, sec-alcohols, β-lactams, benzoins, flavanones and epoxides. The experimental results showed excellent performances for enantioseparation, and highlighted that enantioseparation on homochiral MOF columns is practical.