Scientists develop new concepts about the shape and dynamic nature of molecules NatureChemistry
forms. These mirror image forms are vital in medicine because they have different biological activities.
Usually, it is impossible to interconvert between these"enantiomers" because to do so would require aThe researchers from Durham University and the University of York demonstrated that if the chiral center was part of a dynamic molecular cage structure, then a simple rearrangement of the cage could lead to inversion of the mirror image form of the molecule.
In this way, carbon-based stereochemistry, which is normally considered to be fixed and rigid, can become dynamic, fluxional and responsive—a new paradigm in carbon-centered chirality.The molecular cage has nine carbons atoms in its structure, which are held together by a pair of carbon–carbonand a three-membered cyclopropane ring. This combination of bonds allows some of the bonds in the structure to trade places with one another spontaneously.
Project lead investigator, Dr. Aisha Bismillah of Durham University, said,"Our dynamic carbon cages change their shape extremely quickly. They hop back and forth between their mirror image structures millions of times a second. Seeing them adapt to match changes in their environment is truly remarkable."
Further uncovering this unique dynamic form of stereochemical interconversion, the researchers demonstrated that the preferences of the cage could be transmitted to nearby metal centers, opening the possibility that this type of responsive chirality might find uses in catalysis, and the synthesis of chiral molecules forReflecting on the way in which these results overturn established ideas, Dr.
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