Supramolecular chirality
Encyclopedia
In chemistry
, the term supramolecular chirality is used to describe supramolecular assemblies
that are non-superposable on their mirror images.
Chirality
in supramolecular chemistry
implies the non-symmetric arrangement of molecular components in a non-covalent assembly. Chirality may arise in a supramolecular system if one of its component is chiral or if achiral components arrange in a non symmetrical way to produce a supermolecule
that is chiral. Important examples of the latter case have been reported by Jean-Marie Lehn
.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, the term supramolecular chirality is used to describe supramolecular assemblies
Supramolecular assembly
A supramolecular assembly or "supermolecule" is a well defined complex of molecules held together by noncovalent bonds. While a supramolecular assembly can be simply composed of two molecules , it is more often used to denote larger complexes of molecules that form sphere-, rod-, or sheet-like...
that are non-superposable on their mirror images.
Chirality
Chirality (chemistry)
A chiral molecule is a type of molecule that lacks an internal plane of symmetry and thus has a non-superimposable mirror image. The feature that is most often the cause of chirality in molecules is the presence of an asymmetric carbon atom....
in supramolecular chemistry
Supramolecular chemistry
Supramolecular chemistry refers to the area of chemistry beyond the molecules and focuses on the chemical systems made up of a discrete number of assembled molecular subunits or components...
implies the non-symmetric arrangement of molecular components in a non-covalent assembly. Chirality may arise in a supramolecular system if one of its component is chiral or if achiral components arrange in a non symmetrical way to produce a supermolecule
Supermolecule
The term supermolecule or supramolecule, was introduced by K.L. Wolf in 1937 to describe hydrogen bonded acetic acid dimers. The study of non-covalent association of complexes of molecules has since developed into the field of supramolecular chemistry...
that is chiral. Important examples of the latter case have been reported by Jean-Marie Lehn
Jean-Marie Lehn
Jean-Marie Lehn is a French chemist. He received the Nobel Prize together with Donald Cram and Charles Pedersen in 1987 for his work in Chemistry, particularly his synthesis of the cryptands...
.