Strong hard X-ray magnetochiral dichroism in paramagnetic enantiopure molecules

Experimental evidence of magnetochiral dichroism is found in the hard X-ray absorption spectra of paramagnetic enantiopure molecules. An isotropic sample of a {Tb[Ni(pro)₂]₆}³⁺ salt (pro = L- or D-prolinate) shows up to a 1% difference in absorbance when a magnetic field (1 T) is applied parallel or anti-parallel to the incident X-ray beam at room temperature. This represents the largest magnetochiral dichroism ever observed in absolute and relative value.