Absolute structure and absolute configuration.
Fundamental notions concerning absolute structure and absolute configuration, and their determination from single-crystal diffraction measurements, are presented and reviewed. A glossary of terms with definitions useful in this field is provided. For absolute structure and its determination, the separate but interacting influences of the structure and the inversion-distinguishing power of an X-ray diffraction experiment with dispersive scatterers are examined. Important experimental and algorithmic details of the current methods used for absolute-structure determination are provided. Characterization of crystals for absolute-structure determination and of molecules for absolute-configuration determination are treated. Attention is given to the analysis of absolute structure and absolute configuration in twinned crystals.
Flack
HD
Laboratoire de Cristallographie, University of Geneva, 24 quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland. howard.flack@cryst.unige.ch
Bernardinelli
G