Homochirality beyond grinding: deracemizing chiral crystals by temperature gradient under boiling

Chem Commun (Camb). 2011 Dec 28;47(48):12786-8. doi: 10.1039/c1cc14857e. Epub 2011 Nov 3.

Abstract

A single-chirality solid phase can be obtained in boiling solutions containing a racemic mixture of left- and right-handed enantiomorphous crystals due to dissolution-crystallization cycles induced by a temperature gradient. This phenomenon provides further insights into asymmetric amplification mechanisms under presumably prebiotic conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chlorates / chemistry
  • Crystallization
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Prebiotics*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Chlorates
  • Prebiotics
  • sodium chlorate