Toward Single-Molecule Catalysis

The coadsorption of chiral molecules into racemic layers is an efficient way to induce further asymmetrization towards single handedness. While in heterogeneous chiral catalysis the stationary ratio of modifier and reactant at the surface is assumed to be one, a small amount of chiral dopant can be sufficient for induction of homochirality on the entire surface SU on Cu( 110), for example, forms two enantiomorphous domains in its bisuccinate phase [27]. 

Earlier we described the catalytic reaction as a series of consecutive steps at the surface, in which adsorbate and adsorbate-surface bonds are formed and/or broken on the reaction path towards the product molecule. The forces between surface atoms and adsorbate atoms responsible for rearrangement of the chemical bond are similar to those responsible for strong adsorption (E > 10 kcal/nx)l). The adsorption process dominated by such interaction is called chemisorption. Even on a single crystal metal surface, several adsorption modes are conceivable and for dissociation of a diatomic molecule many different reaction paths can be envisioned. However, usually only one particular surface atom configuration is preferred to lead to the idea of catalytic active site. If catalysis of a molecule is studied that has several reaction possibilities, some desirable and others not, a selective reaction usually requires a particular surface atom composition and rearrangement. 

As in many aspects of contemporary organic synthesis, catalysis plays a key role in many MBFTs toward biologically relevant molecules (BRMs). Recently developed catalytic methodologies allow novel types of C-C bond formations and/or unprecedented control over the stereochemical outcome of the reaction. On the other hand, multicomponent reactions (MCRs), combining three or more reactants in a one-pot process to give a single product (and therefore inherently MBFTs),... 

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