Abstract:

Using boric acid melting method, we investigated the synthesis conditions of enantioenriched openframework copper borophosphate compound LiCu₂［BP₂O₈(OH)₂］, and synthesized the chiral compound with Na and K sources. Experimental results show that water and Li⁺ are essential for the formation of the chiral compound. Excessive water prohibits Li⁺ from participating in the crystallization, and a small amount of water will promote the formation of big single crystals of the aim product; Na⁺ can not replace Li+ to synthesize the chiral compound, and K⁺ only can replace part of Li⁺ to synthesize the compound. Symmetry breaking in the bulk samples still happens.

Key words: borophosphate, alkali metal cation, template ability; chirality