Empirical description of chiral autocatalysis

J Phys Chem A. 2006 May 11;110(18):5982-4. doi: 10.1021/jp0614502.

Abstract

The only known example of chiral autocatalysis is the alkylation of N-heterocyclic aldehydes with iPr(2)Zn (Soai reaction). The mechanism and some details of this reaction are not yet clear. An empirical formula is proposed here for the description of this chiral autocatalytic reaction. This formula allows the calculation of some very informative parameters.