Carbon Atom Asymmetry

Structures [VIII] and [IX] are not equivalent they would not superimpose if the extended chains were overlaid. The difference has to do with the stereochemical configuration at the asymmetric carbon atom. Note that the asymmetry is more accurately described as pseudoasymmetry, since two sections of chain are bonded to these centers. Except near chain ends, which we ignore for high polymers, these chains provide local symmetry in the neighborhood of the carbon under consideration. The designations D and L or R and S are used to distinguish these structures, even though true asymmetry is absent. 

The asterisk signifies an asymmetric carbon. AH of the amino acids, except glycine, have two optically active isomers designated D- or L-. Isoleucine and threonine also have centers of asymmetry at their P-carbon atoms (1,10). Protein amino acids are of the L-a-form (1,10) as illustrated in Table 1. 

Inequality (3.12) ensues from the well-known fact that a given structure which contains a asymmetric carbon atoms gives rise to 2 in general distinct, stereoisomers and in some exceptional cases to fewer than 2 stereoisomers. Nevertheless, the purely analytical deduction of inequality (3.12) from (7) and (2.22) corroborates the observation. The exception, that is the case in which there are fewer than 2 stereoisomers in the presence of a asymmetric carbon atoms, involves compensation of asymmetries. The corollary of (3.12) indicates that compensation of asymmetries in cannot occur... 

Removal of the unsaturated side-chain appendage from C-8 in 22 provides diol lactone 23 and allylic bromide 24 as potential precursors. In the synthetic direction, a diastereoselective alkylation of a hydroxyl-protected lactone enolate derived from 23 with allylic bromide 24 could accomplish the assembly of 22, an intermediate that possesses all of the carbon atoms of PGF2o- It was anticipated that preexisting asymmetry in the lactone enolate would induce the... 

One of the fundamental concepts of structural chemistry is that of molecular asymmetry or chirality. The most typical example is that of a tetrahedral carbon atom with four different substituents, C(abcd), which can produce two different arrangements, which are nonsuperimposable mirror images of one another. Such a carbon atom is usually called asymmetric or chiral. In contrast, when two of the substituents are alike, as in C(abc2), the system is usually termed symmetrical or achiral, except for a special class of compounds... 

The degree of enantioselective bias was improved shortly after this time. In 1971, Morrison et al. reported that the rhodium(I) complex [RhCl(NMDPP)3] (NMDPP= neomethyldiphenylphosphine) reduces ( )-/ -methylcinnamic and ( )-a-methylcinnamic acids with 61 and 52% ee, respectively (Scheme 1.9) [41]. NMDPP is a monodentate phosphine derived from (-)-menthol, and its asymmetry lies at carbon atoms. 

This compound is optically active because of molecular asymmetry. Of course, the presence of an asymmetric carbon atom lends asymmetry to the molecule and hence gives rise to optical activity but it is not always essential. The presence of an asymmetric carbon atom may or may not give rise to optical activity. The case of meso. tartaric acid is worth mentioning in this connectiar. Although the molecule has two asymmetric carbon atoms but it is optically inactive. 

The inactivity in the molecule is due to the fact that it is perfectly symmetric as shown by the dotted line, the upper half exactly coinciding with the lower half. Therefore, molecular asymmetry and not the presence of asymmetric carbon atoms is responsible for optical activity. Since the term asymmetric has been found to be inadequate, now the term chirality has been introduced. The word chiral (the Greek word cheir means hand pronounced kiral) signifies, the property of Handedness . An object that in not superimposable upon its mirror image is chiral and this mirror-image relationship is the same as left hand has with the right. If an object and its mirror image can be made to coincide in space, they are said to be achiral. 

Even metals like Cu, Pt, or Pd which form tetrahedral coordination compounds also from asymmetric compounds. In all these cases, therefore, the centre of asymmetry has a tetrahedral configuration just like an asymmetric carbon atom. 

Asymmetry. In the most common case, an organic compound having a carbon atom attached to four different atoms or groups is an asymmetrical atom. 

Iodinated contrast agents with polyhydroxylated carbon side-chains contain a number of asymmetric carbon atoms yielding numerous optical isomers which relate to each other as enantiomers or diastereoisomers. Sterically hindered non-asymmetric carbon or nitrogen atoms might result in additional asymmetry centres while the partial double bond character of the acyl-carbon-nitrogen bond of amide functions can lead to cisitrans isomerism. Such isomers are labelled rotamers when heating in solution is able to modify their ratio. Isomerism of iodixanol has been described by Priebe et al. [122], Fossheim et al. [123] and by Molander et al. [115]. 

In accord with these deductions, the a and b series are interconvert-ed on destruction of the asymmetry at the anomeric carbon atom. Compounds (41 a) and (41 b), and similarly (45a) cind (45b), give 3-C-methyl-3-amino-3-deoxy-glucopyranose of D- (42) and L-configuration (46) respectively... 

---