The emergence of optically active functional compounds through spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking is a rare but intriguing phenomenon, with relevance of both practical and fundamental interest. Here we show that a racemic Eu‐Al compound, bearing only non‐chiral ligands, forms a conglomerate upon crystallization. Single crystals of the compound are ECD and CPL active. Moreover, we found that a significant enantiomeric excess (50%) of either enantiomer is present in each crystallization batch (non‐racemic conglomerate). Such spontaneous symmetry breaking leads not only to optically active single enantiomorph crystals, but to an overall solid bulk with significant ECD and CPL.

中文翻译：

---

双金属 Eu-Al 配合物中自发对称性断裂的圆偏振发光


通过自发的手性对称性破坏出现光学活性官能化合物是一种罕见但有趣的现象，具有现实意义和基本意义。在这里，我们表明，仅携带非手性配体的外消旋 Eu-Al 化合物在结晶时形成砾岩。该化合物的单晶具有 ECD 和 CPL 活性。此外，我们发现每个结晶批次（非外消旋砾岩）中存在任何一种对映异构体的显着对映体过量 （50%）。这种自发的对称性打破不仅导致光学活性的单对映晶型晶体，而且导致具有显著 ECD 和 CPL 的整体固体块体。