Intercalation chemistry and confined asymmetric catalysis

Abstract

Asymmetric catalysis is an important strategy to efficiently produce single enantiomeric compounds. Recently, heterogeneous catalysis has proved an environmentally-benign chemical process to produce enantiopure products. However, the resulting loss of the activity and/or the enantioselectivity in the heterogeneous catalysis remains great challenge. Benefiting from the changeable interlayer anions and “flexible” interlayer space of layered materials, intercalation chemistry provides an opportunity to intensify the activity and/or the enantioselectivity through the confined catalysis. In this perspective article, we summarize the most recent advances in the rational design, the preparation, and the asymmetric catalysis applications of the heterogeneous chiral catalysts in intercalated structure, mainly focusing on the enhancement of the activity and the enantioselectivity by the confinement effect of the bi-dimensional interlayer space, the spatial synergy of the rigid LDH nanosheets, and the function synergy of the LDH layers. Future challenges and development strategies on heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis are also discussed.