Solid-to-solid formation at the solid-liquid interface leading to a chiral coordination polymer from an achiral monomer.

An achiral crystal of a simple mononuclear copper complex [Cu(II)(C(6)H(8)N(2))(2)SO(4)]·H(2)O (1), on dipping into an aqueous azide solution, transforms into a chiral crystal of a coordination polymer [Cu(II)(C(6)H(8)N(2))(N(3))(2)](n) (2) in a solid-liquid interface reaction demonstrating replacement of a sulfate anion by an azide anion from an aqueous solution.