Assembly state of catalytic modules as chiral switches in asymmetric Strecker amino acid synthesis

Self-assembled chiral polymetallic complexes often demonstrate novel properties as asymmetric catalysts. We report the three-dimensional structures of two such asymmetric catalysts (crystals A and B) for Strecker alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acid synthesis. These complexes are constructed via assembly of the same chiral modules derived from d-glucose, but their assembly modes differ. The enantioselectivity in the Strecker reaction was dramatically switched, depending on which assembly mode was used: the catalyst generated in situ whose structure is represented by crystal B, or by crystal A. These findings provide insight into the functional importance of higher-order structures of an artificial catalyst.