Resolution of a Racemic Small Molecular Alcohol by a Chiral Metal−Organic Coordination Polymer through Intercalation

The resolution of racemic 2-butanol through intercalation by a chiral metal−organic coordination polymer [Cu(PPh 3 )( N, N ‘-(2-pyridyl-(4-pyridyl methyl)-amine)) 1.5 ]·ClO 4 ( 1 ) constructed by an achiral building block provides new insight into the optical-resolution field. This provides encouragement for the role of crystal engineering in separating racemic mixtures and revives the historic practice of mechanically separating crystals of opposite chirality. Crystal data for 1: C 69 H 63 Cl 2 Cu 2 N 9 O 8 P 2, trigonal, R 3, a = 13.7382(2), b = 13.7382(2), c = 32.72480(10) Å, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°, V = 5348.78(11) Å 3, Z = 3, M = 1406.20, D c = 1.310 Mg m -3, R 1 = 0.0703, wR 2 = 0.1457, S = 0.928, T = 293 K, μ = 0.774 mm -1; crystal data for 1 ·1.5 ( S )-2-butanol ( 2 ): C 75 H 78 Cl 2 Cu 2 N 9 O 9.5 P 2, trigonal, R 3, a = 13.7282(4), b = 13.7282(4), c = 32.7155(12) Å, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°, V = 5339.6(11) Å 3, Z = 3, M = 1517.36, D c = 1.416 Mg m -3, R 1 = 0.0454, w R 2 = 0.0605, S = 1.019, T = 293 K, μ = 0.783 mm -1 .