A Model for Complete Chiral Crystallization

作者：Makio Uwaha · 发表于：Journal of the Physical Society of Japan · 年份：2004 · DOI：10.1143/jpsj.73.2601 · 被引用次数：114 · 研究领域：Origins and Evolution of Life、Protein Structure and Dynamics、Enzyme Structure and Function

A simple reaction-type model that produces complete chiral symmetry breaking in crystallization is proposed. Crystals of homochirality are formed from achiral molecules. The model assumes i) perpetual mixing of the solution and abrasion of the crystals, ii) existence of chiral units smaller than the critical nucleus, iii) all processes have their counterparts, that is, decay of chiral units and crystals also occurs. We show that autocatalysis arises from the reaction of the chiral units so that chiral asymmetry is amplified as crystallization proceeds. Homochirality is achieved via slow relaxation in a later stage of crystallization.