Abstract
Many structures in nature look symmetric, but this is not completely accurate, because absolute symmetry is close to death. Chirality (handedness) is one form of living asymmetry. Chirality has been extensively investigated at different levels. Many rules were coined in attempts made for many decades to have control over the selection of handedness that seems to easily occur in nature. It is certain that if good control is realized on chirality, the roads will be ultimately open towards numerous developments in pharmaceutical, technological, and industrial applications. This tutorial review presents a report on chirality from single molecules to supramolecular assemblies. The realized functions are still in their infancy and have been scarcely converted into actual applications. This review provides an overview for starters in the chirality field of research on concepts, common methodologies, and outstanding accomplishments. It starts with an introductory section on the definitions and classifications of chirality at the different levels of molecular complexity, followed by highlighting the importance of chirality in biological systems and the different means of realizing chirality and its inversion in solid and solution-based systems at molecular and supramolecular levels. Chirality-relevant important findings and (bio-)technological applications are also reported accordingly.
Highlights
This review provides an overview for starters in the chirality field of research on con‐
Cepts, common methodologies, and outstanding accomplishments. It starts with an introductory section on the definitions and classifications of chirality at the different levels of molecular complex‐
The group/atoms that are attached to the chiral center and bearing the lowest molecular weight are held backward out of the plane and the other groups/atoms are ordered from the group/atoms by the highest priority
Summary
Pasteur concluded that homochirality forms the only sharply defined boundary be‐. tween the chemistry of dead and living matter [1]. If the light is rotated clockwise, this enantiomer is labeled (+) and its mirror image is labeled (−). Another way of determining the orientation or the handedness of the molecules is by applying the Cahn‐Ingold‐Prelog priority rule [4]. Using this rule, the group/atoms that are attached to the chiral center (stereo‐center) and bearing the lowest molecular weight are held backward out of the plane and the other groups/atoms are ordered from the group/atoms by the highest priority (molecular weight). Tiomer on the right and anticlockwise (S) in the enantiomer on the left
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