A tensor geometry perspective of stereogenicity and chirotopicity in chemistry

Abstract

The fundamental concepts underlying stereogenicity and chirotopicity in chemistry are described in terms usually associated with tensor analysis. The geometrical foundations intrinsic to contravariance and covariance are related to the ‘metric motions’. Translations and rotations, distinguished by their amenability to differential variation, are shown to be closed aligned with stereogenicity. This suggests their being portrayed contravariantly. Reflection, on the other hand, which is the basis for chirotopicity, is described as a discrete ‘one-shot’ transformation that has its basis in covariant description.