Chiral selectivity of porphyrin-ZnO nanoparticle conjugates

Recognition of enantiomers is one of the most arduous challenges in chemical sensor development. Although several chiral systems exist, their effective exploitation as the sensitive layer in chemical sensors is hampered by several practical implications that hinder stereoselective recognition in solid state. In this paper, we report a new methodology to efficiently prepare chiral solid films, by using a hybrid material approach where chiral porphyrin derivatives are grafted onto zinc oxide nanoparticles. Circular dichroism (CD) evidences that the solid-state film of the material retains supramolecular chirality due to porphyrin interactions, besides an additional CD feature in correspondence of the absorbance of ZnO (375 nm), suggesting the induction of chirality in the underlying zinc oxide nanoparticles. The capability of hybrid material to detect and recognize vapors of enantiomer pairs was evaluated by fabricating gas sensors based on quartz microbalances. Chiral films of porphyrin on its own were used for comparison. The sensor based on functionalized nanostructures presented a remarkable stereoselectivity in the recognition of limonene enantiomers, whose ability to intercalate in the porphyrin layers makes this terpene an optimal chiral probe. The chiroptical and stereoselective properties of the hybrid material confirm that the use of porphyrin-capped ZnO nanostructures is a viable route for the formation of chiral selective surfaces. © 2019 American Chemical Society

Chiral Auxiliaries and Chirogenesis

This Reprint Book highlights and overviews the most important and novel aspects of chiral auxiliary and chirogenesis in different natural/physical sciences and in modern technologies. In particular, some newly emerging classes of molecules used for these purposes are described. This book consists of four review articles and one research paper and is of interest for general chemistry readership, including graduate and postgraduate students, and for researchers specializing in the fields of chirality and stereochemistr

Chiral Auxiliaries and Chirogenesis II

This Reprint Book highlights and overviews the most important and novel aspects of chiral auxiliary and chirogenesis in different natural/physical sciences and in modern technologies. In particular, some newly emerging classes of molecules used for these purposes have been described. Furthermore, some important experimental and theoretical issues associated with the chirality field have been addressed. This book consists of one review article and six research papers and is of interest for general chemistry readership, including graduate and post-graduate students, and for researchers specializing in the fields of chirality and stereochemistr

Supramolecular Chirality in Porphyrin Chemistry

Supramolecular chirality, being an intelligent combination of supramolecular chemistry and chiral science, plays a decisive role in the functioning of various natural assemblies and has attracted much attention from the scientific community, due to different applications in modern technologies, medicine, pharmacology, catalysis and biomimetic research. Porphyrin molecules are of particular interest to study this phenomenon owing to their unique spectral, physico-chemical and synthetic properties. This review highlights the most important types of chiral porphyrin structures by using the best-suited representative examples, which are frequently used in the area of supramolecular chirality