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Title: Chiral recognition and selection during the self-assembly process of protein-mimic macroanions

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7475· OSTI ID:1239600

The research on chiral recognition and chiral selection is not only fundamental in resolving the puzzle of homochirality, but also instructive in chiral separation and stereoselective catalysis. Here we report the chiral recognition and chiral selection during the self-assembly process of two enantiomeric wheel-shaped macroanions, [Fe28(μ3-O)8(Tart)16(HCOO)24]20- (Tart=D- or L-tartaric acid tetra-anion). The enantiomers are observed to remain self-sorted and self-assemble into their individual assemblies in their racemic mixture solution. The addition of chiral co-anions can selectively suppress the self-assembly process of the enantiomeric macroanions, which is further used to separate the two enantiomers from their mixtures on the basis of the size difference between the monomers and the assemblies. We believe that delicate long-range electrostatic interactions could be responsible for such high-level chiral recognition and selection.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences - Scientific User Facilities Division; National Science Foundation (NSF); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1239600
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Vol. 6; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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