On the Chiral Homogeneity of Nature: From Atoms to Small Molecules

Abstract

AbstractThe genesis of enantiopurity in nature, as exemplified by terrestrial amino acids and sugars, has fascinated scientists for more than 150 years. This is a field where we know what we do not know. Starting from theoretical treatments postulated more than 50 years ago, numerous hypotheses, theories, and experiments have been formulated to claim niches of logic and truth. Such arguments vary from purely speculative, often bizarre, to sound enough in terms of reproducibility and feasible generation of mirror symmetry breaking. Although we cannot exclude a biotic origin (i.e,. homochirality was an a posteriori event where one enantiomer tripped and the other survived and evolved, in close resemblance to a Darwinian‐like process), most data and models available are consistent with an abiotic origin that amplified small and stochastic imbalances to produce enantiopure homogeneity prior to life. This analysis revisits recent theoretical background and experiments, which appear to be prebiotically credible, and focuses on primordial molecules such as amino acids. This by no means implies a recreation of the origin of life on Earth, as this task will likely be a surmise forever. These strategies reveal a high degree of robustness and prove how home‐made enantiopurity can be accomplished. Such routes should, in addition, be of enormous practical interest for the production of chiral materials and drugs.