Unlocking spontaneous chiral resolution in silver clusters through steric and anionic control.

ABSTRACT: The spontaneous emergence of chirality from racemic or achiral small molecules and nanoclusters remains a fascinating yet poorly predictable phenomenon. Herein, we report a rational design strategy for achieving spontaneous chiral resolution, as demonstrated through the controlled synthesis of a series of trinuclear silver clusters based on C ₃-symmetric tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine and its derivatives. Our results show that complexes formed by trinuclear clusters bearing sterically demanding ligands and trifluoromethanesulfonate (OTf^-) favor spontaneous chiral resolution, forming homochiral structures due to helical scaffolds from bidirectional intermolecular π⋯π interactions. In contrast, trinuclear silver clusters bearing ligands with less steric hindra

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12910360 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature