Abstract
New evidence is presented that crystallization of sodium chlorate in the presence of the chiral co-solute d-glucose does not bias the growth of levorotatory crystals over dextrorotatory. The weighted mean percentage of d-NaClO3 was found to be Wd = 50.4 ± 1.4, compared to previous experiments of Kipping and Pope showing Wd = 31.7 ± 0.9 [J. Chem. Soc. Trans. 1898, 73, 606]. Possible explanations for the discrepancy between the historical results and the present work are discussed. The present work casts doubt on a result that has been accepted for over a century, concerning the ability of a chiral molecule to influence asymmetric crystallization, which has been used to promote theories on the possible origins of biological homochirality.
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