Simple Models for Chirality Conversion of Crystals and Molecules by Grinding

Abstract

By grinding crystals in a solution, the chirality conversion of the crystal structure and the resultant conversion of molecular chirality have been realized recently. Reaction-type models that enable the reproduction of these phenomena are studied. In the models, chiral clusters are assumed to be formed by grinding and that these clusters can be integrated into crystals of the same chirality. An initial chirality imbalance is amplified exponentially, and the rate is approximately proportional to the grinding strength and to the molecular racemization rate in a relevant parameter range.