Chirality in adsorption on solid surfaces
1Department of Chemistry and UCR Center for Catalysis, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. zaera@ucr.edu.
Chemical Society Reviews
|October 19, 2017
Summary
This review explores recent advances in understanding chemical chirality at solid surfaces. Key phenomena like surface reconstruction and enantioselectivity are discussed, offering insights into chiral molecule adsorption and surface modification.
Area of Science:
- Surface Chemistry
- Chirality Studies
- Materials Science
Background:
- Chirality is fundamental to life's biochemistry.
- Solid surfaces play a crucial role in many chiral chemical reactions.
- Understanding surface chirality is vital for applications in synthesis and separation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in chemical chirality at solid surfaces.
- To describe methods for bestowing chirality onto surfaces.
- To analyze molecular-level adsorption of chiral compounds.
Main Methods:
- Surveying literature on adsorption of enantiomers, enantiomeric mixtures, and prochiral molecules.
- Examining studies on model surfaces like metal single crystals and graphite.
- Analyzing phenomena such as surface reconstruction and chiral imprinting.
Main Results:
- Identified phenomena include surface reconstruction and chiral imprinting.
- Observed enhancement or suppression of enantioselectivity in adsorbed layers.
- Discussed methods for creating enantioselective surface sites via supramolecular ensembles or adsorbate:modifier adducts.
Conclusions:
- Surface chirality significantly influences adsorption and reactivity of chiral molecules.
- Strategies for creating enantioselective surfaces are advancing.
- The liquid phase impacts enantioselective processes like crystallization and catalysis.
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