Spontaneous resolution of racemic camphorates in the formation of three-dimensional metal-organic frameworks.

Reported here is a rare example of enantioselective processes between organic racemic ligands (DL-camphorates) with in situ formed chiral metal complexes. Such enantioselectivity leads to a double spontaneous resolution of two pairs of distinctly different racemates [the LambdaDelta-Zn(Htea) units and the DL-camphorate ligands] into two chiral three-dimensional frameworks containing only one enantiommeric form from each racemate. This work demonstrates unique enantioselectivity in the self-assembly of metal-organic frameworks containing multiple chiral features, which points to a new avenue for the preparation of chiral framework materials and for the resolution of racemates.