A second-order nonlinear optical material with a 5-fold interpenetrating diamondoid framework based on two achiral precursors: spontaneous resolution to absolute chiral induction

A pair of new enantiomeric Zn(ii) complexes with 5-fold interpenetrating diamondoid frameworks have been synthesized using two achiral tritopic and V-shaped ligands through spontaneous resolution, which crystallize in orthorhombic crystal systems with chiral P2₁2₁2₁ space groups, showing a strong second harmonic generation response. In the presence of enantiopure propane-1,2-diol as a chiral inducing agent, they are driven to controllable homochiral crystallization of the desired enantiomorph, confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction and circular dichroism spectroscopy.