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Fully Autonomous Characterization and Data Collection from Crystals of Biological Macromolecules
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Identifying a Hidden Conglomerate Chiral Pool in the CSD
Mark P Walsh1, James A Barclay1, Callum S Begg1
1Department of Chemistry Durham University, Lower Mount Joy, South Rd, DurhamDH1 3LE, United Kingdom.
JACS Au
|October 31, 2022
Summary
Conglomerate crystallization, the spontaneous formation of pure enantiomer crystals from mixed sources, is key to understanding molecular chirality. A new curated list of over 1800 chiral compounds capable of this phenomenon offers a novel chiral pool.
Area of Science:
- Crystallography
- Organic Chemistry
- Chirality Studies
Background:
- Conglomerate crystallization is the spontaneous resolution of racemic mixtures into enantioenriched crystals.
- This phenomenon is crucial for understanding molecular chirality but remains largely undocumented.
- Existing databases do not readily identify conglomerate crystallization, hindering research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To curate a comprehensive list of chiral organic molecules that exhibit conglomerate crystallization.
- To address the lack of accessible data on this crystallographic behavior.
- To propose a new, non-biological chiral pool derived from conglomerate crystallizing compounds.
Main Methods:
- Manual searching of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and scientific literature.
- Inspection of published synthetic routes to identify racemic mixtures capable of spontaneous resolution.
- Curation of a list of over 1800 chiral species exhibiting conglomerate crystallization.
Main Results:
- A curated list of over 1800 chiral species capable of conglomerate crystallization was compiled.
- The study reveals that synthetic chemists frequently produce but rarely acknowledge this phenomenon.
- The identified compounds represent a significant, previously unrecognized chiral pool.
Conclusions:
- Conglomerate crystallization is a widespread phenomenon in organic chemistry, yet it is underreported.
- The curated list provides a valuable resource for researchers in chiral chemistry and materials science.
- This new chiral pool, derived from synthetic compounds, offers an alternative to biologically sourced chiral materials.
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