For the first time, we report the formation of a chiral MOF-based helical nanomaterial (h-HDGA@ZIF-67) through arranging zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) nanocrystals on helical l-glutamic acid terminated bolaamphiphile (h-HDGA) via a facile process at room temperature. The self-assembly leads to the chiral function of the ZIF-67 from an achiral ligand. The h-HDGA@ZIF-67 served as a new type of electrochemical sensing interface for recognizing and quantifying Pen enantiomers that realize significant enantioselectivity, satisfactory stability, and reproducibility. The synergetic effect from ZIF-67 nanocrystals on h-HDGA and stereoselectivity of h-HDGA@ZIF-67 lead to the excellent enantioselectivity. The present strategy showed the first example of a chiral MOF-based supramolecule helical nanomaterial, presenting high enantioselectivity for electrochemical enantiomeric determination.
Keywords: MOF; Pen enantiomers; electrochemical chiral recognition; helical nanomaterial.