Homochirality as a consequence of thermodynamic equilibrium?
Recent results on the crystallisation/dissolution equilibrium of enantiomorphic crystals of NaClO3 lead to the conclusion that liquid-phase systems composed of achiral or fast racemising compounds yielding enantiomorphic solid phases (racemic conglomerates) can derive spontaneously to a single homochiral solid phase. This is a thermodynamically driven total resolution, which can only occur when the system is so perturbed that chiral recognition between the species of the system becomes feasible.
Crusats
Joaquim
J
Departament de Química Orgànica Universitat de Barcelona, c. Martí i Franquès 1.08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. j.crusats@ub.edu
Veintemillas-Verdaguer
Sabino
S
Ribó
Josep M
JM
D002704:Chlorates / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D044367:Phase Transition; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013816:Thermodynamics
D002704:Chlorates; C032706:sodium chlorate