Phase Diagram of a Chiral Substance Exhibiting Oiling Out in Cyclohexane

Abstract

This work investigates the ternary phase diagram of the enantiomers of ethyl-2-ethoxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate (EEHP) in cyclohexane. The enantiomers of EEHP form a conglomerate, and both the pure enantiomer and the racemic mixture exhibit stable oiling out in cyclohexane. Our analysis shows that the ternary phase diagram of such a system assumes a unique structural evolution around the onset temperature of oiling out; that is, we found that the onset of oiling out strictly occurs through the emergence of a second liquid phase of racemic composition. Furthermore, we found that the further evolution of the ternary phase diagram, i.e., above the onset temperature of oiling out, is dictated by the properties of the phase diagrams pure enantiomer/solvent and racemic mixture/solvent. Our theoretical considerations are in excellent agreement with experimental measurements of EEHP in cyclohexane.