A Precursor for Chiral Separation during Crystallization

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To understand the chiral symmetry breaking during crystallization of NaClO3, we directly observed the initial stage of crystallization from an aqueous solution by usingpolarized-light microscopy. Crystallization of an achiral metastable phase and its transformation into a chiral cubic phase were observed in situ for the first time. The crystal structure of the achiral metastable phase was analyzed by cryogenic single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. The achiral metastable phase was monoclinic with a = 8.42, b = 5.26, c = 6.70 A, and = 109.71o, space group P21/a. As they grew larger, the achiral monoclinic crystals transformed into chiral cubic crystals, showing that the achiral phase acts as aprecursor of the chiral phase.