Homochiral metal-organic frameworks based on amino acid ligands for HPLC separation of enantiomers.

Natural amino acids are well known to form coordination polymers with transition metal ions. In this study, six homochiral metal-organic frameworks constructed from Zn2+ or Co2+ ions and various enantiopure amino acid (L-tyrosine, L-histidine, L-tryptophan and L-glutamic acid), namely [Zn(L-tyr)]n (L-tyrZn), [Zn4 (btc)2 (Hbtc)(L-His)2 (H2 O)4 ]·1.5H2 O, {[Zn2 (L-trp)2 (bpe)2 (H2 O)2 ]·2H2 O·2NO3 }n , [Co2 (L-Trp)(INT)2 (H2 O)2 (ClO4 )], [Co2 (sdba)((L-Trp)2 ] and [Co(L-Glu)(H2 O)·H2 O]∞ , were synthesized according to the methods previously reported in the literature. The six homochiral MOFs were explored as the chiral stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of enantiomers using hexane/isopropanol or hexane/dichloromethane as mobile phase. Various types of enantiomers such as alcohols, amines, ketones, ethers, organic acids, etc. can be resolved on these homochiral MOF columns. The results revealed that the enantioseletivities of homochiral MOFs based on amino acids as chiral bridging ligands used as stationary phases are practical in HPLC.