Sugar-based synthesis of an enantiomorphically pure zeolite

Abstract

Zeolites, well-known by their high selectivities in catalytic and separation processes due to their porous nature, play a crucial role in various applications. One significant long-term objective is the synthesis of enantiopure zeolites, potentially enabling enantioselective processes. Earlier attempts result in partial success, yielding some enantiomorphically enriched zeolites. In this study, we introduce a zeolite synthesis approach utilizing chiral organic structure directing agents (ch-OSDAs) derived from sugars, guiding the crystallization process toward achieving enantiomorphically pure S-STW zeolite. The purity of the zeolite is confirmed through extensive analyses of individual crystals using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, extracting Flack parameters and space groups. Theoretical and structural investigations confirm that the sugar-derived ch-OSDA perfectly fits the characteristic helicoidal channel of the zeolite structure, featuring its efficacy in achieving enantiopure zeolites.