Using Pseudosymmetry to Design Crystals of Racemic Compounds
Author Information
Author(s): Lindquist-Kleissler Brent, Villanueva Viky, Getahun Addis, Johnstone Timothy C.
Primary Institution: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz
Hypothesis
We hypothesized that the crystallization of 1:1 mixtures of the enantiomeric complexes would produce crystals in the centrosymmetric space group approximated by the pseudosymmetry.
Conclusion
The racemic compound did indeed crystallize in a higher-symmetry space group, confirming our hypothesis.
Supporting Evidence
- The enantiomerically pure compounds crystallized with pseudoinversion centers that mimic higher-symmetry space groups.
- The racemic compound crystallized in a higher-symmetry space group, confirming the hypothesis.
- An analysis of the structures revealed similarities in local intermolecular interactions.
Takeaway
The researchers wanted to see if mixing two types of chiral compounds would create crystals with a special symmetry, and it worked as they expected.
Methodology
The study involved synthesizing organometallic antimony(V) complexes and analyzing their crystal structures using X-ray diffraction.
Limitations
The study did not demonstrate that a P21/c structure of the racemic compound cannot form under different conditions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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