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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
08:51
Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
Published on: August 18, 2017
Looking for homochirality in the inter-stellar medium
G Marloie1, M Lattelais, F Pauzat
1Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, UMR-CNRS 7616, Paris, France.
Interdisciplinary Sciences, Computational Life Sciences
|July 20, 2010
Summary
Chiral molecules like lactic acid may be detectable in space. Quantum simulations show these molecules are the most stable, making them prime targets for interstellar medium detection. Further lab experiments are recommended.
Area of Science:
- Astrochemistry
- Quantum Chemistry
- Astrobiology
Background:
- Chirality is crucial in biological systems, but the presence of chiral molecules in the interstellar medium (ISM) remains uncertain.
- The Minimum Energy Principle suggests that the most stable isomer is the most abundant, guiding the search for extraterrestrial molecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential detectability of chiral molecules in the ISM.
- To identify specific chiral molecules that are thermodynamically favored and thus more likely to exist in space.
Main Methods:
- Utilized quantum simulations based on density functional theory (DFT) to calculate the relative stability of various molecular isomers.
- Applied the Minimum Energy Principle to predict the abundance of chiral molecules based on their calculated energies.
Main Results:
- Most chiral isomers within families like acetone, amides, and amino acids are not the most stable species.
- However, lactic acid, a precursor to alpha-alanine, and the simplest chiral alcohol were found to be the most stable in their respective chemical families.
- These three identified chiral molecules possess significant dipole moments, enhancing their potential for detection.
Conclusions:
- Lactic acid and two other specific chiral molecules are predicted to be detectable in the interstellar medium based on their stability.
- The findings support further laboratory investigations to refine rotational constants for future observational proposals.
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