The racemate-to-homochiral approach to crystal engineering via chiral symmetry breaking

The racemate-to-homochiral approach is a method to transform or separate a racemic mixture into homochiral compounds. This protocol, if without an external chiral source, is categorized into chiral symmetry breaking. The resolution processes without chiral induction are highly important for the investigation of the origin of homochirality in life, pharmaceutical synthesis, the chemical industry and materials science. Besides the studies on the models and mechanisms used to explain the racemate-to-homochiral approach which may give the probable origin of homochirality in life, recent developments in this field have been plotted towards the separation of enantiomers for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and chiral chemicals. Direct synthesis of chiral metal-organic framework (MOF) coordination polymers has been achieved as well. In this highlight, we will disclose the comparison of spontaneous resolution and chiral symmetry breaking resolution, and describe the evolution of models and mechanisms for chiral symmetry breaking resolution and its applications in enantiomer resolution and materials science.