We demonstrate that the simple achiral amino acid glycine as its methyl ester inherits the chiral imprint of methyl lactate upon complexation, resulting in induced vibrational optical activity of the methylene C-H bonds. To mimic conditions of ice on comets that are considered long-term reaction as well as storage entities for (organic) molecules, we employ the matrix isolation technique in conjunction with vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy and DFT computations. The observed chirality transfer is likely a key element for the realization of concepts rationalizing chirogenesis, that is, the generation of a chiral imbalance.
Achiral amino acid glycine as its methyl ester inherits the chiral fingerprint of methyl lactate within the confines of a frozen matrix: Circularly polarized light of one sense is absorbed more strongly due to the vibrational optical activity of glycine induced by its methyl lactate partner. Comparable to ices on comets, cryogenic matrices of solidified gases allow investigations on the reactivity of small molecules by vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy. The observed chirality transfer could prove to be a substantial factor for the creation of an initial chiral imbalance in racemates of extraterrestrial origin. More information can be found in the Communication by P. R. Schreiner et al. on page 11904.
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