Asymmetric Autocatalysis

Asymmetric autocatalysis is a reaction in which chiral compound acts as a chiral catalyst for its own production. The process is a catalytic automultiplication of the chiral compound leading to an end product with a high enantiomeric excess. It has advantages over non-autocatalytic reactions because the amount of catalyst increases and no loss or deterioration of the catalyst is observed. Additionally, because the catalyst and product have the same structure, the separation of product from the catalyst is not necessary. Asymmetric Autocatalysis provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic of autocatalysis and an in-depth review of the current state of the research. Edited by a team including Professor Kenso Soai, who first described these types of reaction, and written by experts from around the world this book is a great resource for anyone with an interest in organic synthesis, catalysis and chirality.

Advances in Asymmetric Autocatalysis and Related Topics provides various viewpoints on the important developments in asymmetric autocatalysis that have occurred in the past few years, also including brand new information in the field. Asymmetric autocatalysis is a chemical reaction which leads from achiral starting materials to chiral products, and in which the product accelerates its own formation reaction (conventional catalysis) and promotes the prevalence of its own chiral configuration (asymmetric induction). The combination of these two effects in the same reaction was unprecedented before 1995 when it was first described by Kenso SOAI at the Tokyo University of Science. Since then, several new combinations of this effect have been found, most intriguingly the possibility of absolute asymmetric synthesis, which is the spontaneous formation of the excess of one of the enantiomers of the product, a dream of organic chemists for more than a century. The book contains expert-contributed chapters that describe the most exciting recent developments in the field of the Soai reaction and in related topics, ranging from mechanistic studies and theoretical research, to very practical problems in chiral syntheses and products. Features contributions from global experts, including several chapters from Kenso Soai and expert colleagues Focuses on recent developments in the field of asymmetric autocatalysis and newly reported findings Explores the Soai reaction, new developments, and the light it sheds on homochirality in certain biomolecules

Asymmetric Autocatalysis provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic of autocatalysis and an in-depth review of the current state of the research.

Chirality is a fundamental, persistent, but often overlooked feature of all living organisms on the molecular level as well as on the macroscopic scale. The high degree of preference for only one of two possible mirror image forms in Nature, often called biological homochirality is a puzzling, and not yet fully understood, phenomenon. This book covers biological homochirality from an interdisciplinary approach - contributions range from synthetic chemists, theoretical topologists and physicists, from palaeontologists and biologists to space scientists and representatives of the pharmaceutical and materials industries. Topics covered include - theory of biochirality, origins of biochirality, autocatalysis with amplification of chirality, macroscopic (present) biochirality, fossil records of chiral organisms - paleochirality, extraterrestrial origin of chirality, exceptions to the rule of biological homochirality, D-amino acids, chemical transfer of chirality, PV effects, and polarised radiation chemistry.

Amplification of Chirality presents critical reviews of the present position and future trends in modern chemical research. The book contains short and concise reports on chemistry. Each is written by the world renowned experts. Still valid and useful after 5 or 10 years, more information as well as the electronic version of the whole content available at: springerlink.com.

Praise for the previous editions "An excellent text . . . will no doubt provide the benchmark for comparative works for many years." —Journal of the American Chemical Society "An excellent state-of-the-art compilation of catalytic asymmetric chemistry . . . should be included in any chemistry reference collection." —Choice "This is a tremendous resource and an excellent read. I recommend immediate purchase." —Perkin Transactions Since this important work was first published in 1993, the field of catalytic asymmetric synthesis has grown explosively, spawning effective new methods for obtaining enantiomerically pure compounds on a large scale and stimulating new applications in diverse fields—from medicine to materials science. Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis, Third Edition addresses these rapid changes through contributions from highly recognized world leaders in the field. This seminal text presents detailed accounts of the most important catalytic asymmetric reactions known today, and discusses recent advances and essential information on the initial development of certain processes. An excellent working resource for academic researchers and industrial chemists alike, the Third Edition features: Six entirely new chapters focusing on novel approaches to catalytic asymmetric synthesis including non-conventional media/conditions, organocatalysis, chiral Lewis and Bronsted acids, CH activation, carbon-heteroatom bond-forming reactions, and enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis A new section focusing on the important new reaction, asymmetric metathesis, in carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions Updated chapters on hydrogenation, carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, hydrosilylations, carbonylations, oxidations, amplifications and autocatalysis, and polymerization reactions Retaining the best of its predecessors but now thoroughly up to date, Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis, Third Edition serves as an excellent desktop reference and text for researchers and students from the upper-level undergraduates through experienced professionals in industry or academia.

In 1978, Fred Hoyle proposed that interstellar comets carrying several viruses landed on Earth as part of the panspermia hypotheses. With respect to life, the origin of homochirality on Earth has been the greatest mystery because life cannot exist without molecular asymmetry. Many scientists have proposed several possible hypotheses to answer this long-standing L-D question. Previously, Martin Gardner raised the question about mirror symmetry and broken mirror symmetry in terms of the homochirality question in his monographs (1964 and 1990). Possible scenarios for the L-D issue can be categorized into (i) Earth and exoterrestrial origins, (ii) by-chance and necessity mechanisms, and (iii) mirror-symmetrical and non-mirror-symmetrical forces as physical and chemical origins. These scenarios should involve further great amplification mechanisms, enabling a pure L- or D-world.

Choice Recommended Title, August 2019 Read an exclusive interview with Professor Vera Kolb here. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life on Earth. This exciting and significant field of research also investigates the potential existence and search for extra-terrestrial life in the Solar System and beyond. This is the first handbook in this burgeoning and interdisciplinary field. Edited by Vera Kolb, a highly respected astrobiologist, this comprehensive resource captures the history and current state of the field. Rich in information and easy to use, it assumes basic knowledge and provides answers to questions from practitioners and specialists in the field, as well as providing key references for further study. Features: Fills an important gap in the market, providing a comprehensive overview of the field Edited by an authority in the subject, with chapters written by experts in the many diverse areas that comprise astrobiology Contains in-depth and broad coverage of an exciting field that will only grow in importance in the decades ahead