Microfluidic antisolvent crystallization for chiral symmetry breaking

Area of Science:

• Crystallization Science
• Physical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) is a fundamental phenomenon in crystal formation.
• Controlling CSB in enantiomeric crystallization is crucial for producing pure chiral compounds.
• Traditional methods often lack precise control over crystallization conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of solution volume on chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) in sodium chlorate crystals.
• To explore the use of microfluidic antisolvent crystallization for controlled chiral crystallization.
• To establish a relationship between emulsion droplet volume and CSB outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a microfluidic device to generate uniform emulsion droplets of sodium chlorate solution in dodecane.
• Employed an antisolvent crystallization approach by introducing ethanol into the continuous phase.
• Quantitatively analyzed and visualized crystallization within individual emulsion droplets.

Main Results:

• Observed 100% chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) within a specific critical emulsion volume.
• Found that exceeding this critical volume increased the probability of forming both enantiomers.
• Demonstrated a direct correlation between solution volume and the extent of CSB.

Conclusions:

• Solution volume is a critical parameter influencing chiral symmetry breaking in sodium chlorate crystallization.
• Microfluidic antisolvent crystallization offers precise control over CSB phenomena.
• The observed volume dependence is attributed to rapid molecule depletion and suppressed primary nucleation beyond the critical volume.