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DOE OSTI · 2574718

Highly enantioselective synthesis controlled by spin-exchange interaction

Yan, Yong [San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000163610541)·Shaikh, Melad [San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)]·Beard, Matthew C. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000227111355)·Gu, Jing [San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000255060049)·Hendrix, Isaac [San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)] (ORCID:0009000865858442)
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Abstract

We present a strategy to achieve absolute asymmetric catalysis that is effectively controlled by an external magnetic field via a spin-exchange reaction leveraging the chirality-induced spin selectivity effect. Using an external magnetic field to achieve asymmetric synthesis has long been desired. Here, we demonstrate 90% enantiomeric excess (ee) in [3 + 2] cycloadditions and 89% ee in aldol reactions, where the handedness of the product is determined by the ~±150 mT external magnetic polarization of a ferromagnet (FM). Our approach uses an enantioselective crystallization of racemic catalysts on a FM surface, using a small-scale crystallization vial connected to a bulk racemic solution. Racemic catalysts controllably crystallize into their respective enantiopure forms and are directly used in asymmetric reactions. Thus, we demonstrate that an external magnetic field can serve as a versatile symmetry-breaking tool to achieve highly enantioselective organic synthesis eliminating the need of any enantioenriched reagents.

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRYCISSasymmetric synthesischiralitysynthesis

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Yan, Yong [San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000163610541), Shaikh, Melad [San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)], Beard, Matthew C. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000227111355), Gu, Jing [San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000255060049), Hendrix, Isaac [San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)] (ORCID:0009000865858442). 2025-06-18. Highly enantioselective synthesis controlled by spin-exchange interaction. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adw5850

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