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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
Published on: January 17, 2020
Enantiospecificity in achiral zeolites for asymmetric catalysis
Tianxiang Chen1, Ching Kit Tommy Wun, Sarah J Day
1The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen Hi-tech Industrial Park, Shenzhen 518000, China.
Abstract:
This article highlights the recent fundamental study in using achiral and chiral porous materials for the potential applications in asymmetric catalysis. Thanks to the new-generation synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (SXRD) facilities, we reveal the presence of the unique 'chiral region' in achiral zeolites with the MFI topology. Both the inherent site-isolation effect of the active sites and internal confinement restraints in zeolites are critical for creating 'chiral regions' that can aid the design of more enantioselective catalytic reactions. We also offer an outlook on the challenges and opportunities of this research area.
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