INS4-0069
Deterministic Chiral Order from Achiral Matter
Topic
S4. Colloids, Interfaces, and Molecular Assemblies for Functional Soft Materials
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
15:00 - 15:25
Room 106
Session Chairs
Moon Jong HAN
Presenter(s)
Myongsoo Lee (Fudan University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Deterministic homochirality is generally considered inaccessible from fully achiral matter because, in the absence of pre-existing stereochemical information or external chiral influence, symmetry breaking is expected to remain stochastic. Although nonlinear processes such as autocatalysis, crystallization, and self-assembly can amplify microscopic asymmetries, previously reported deterministic outcomes ultimately rely on structurally encoded or externally imposed chiral information. Against this expectation, we demonstrate that fully achiral molecules can reproducibly converge to a single handedness de novo, without hidden stereochemical bias, external chiral influence, or thermodynamic preference. These findings establish that deterministic chirality selection can emerge directly from fully achiral matter without any pre-existing chiral information. We further show that this deterministic behavior originates from intrinsic electronic asymmetry that biases the accessibility of competing, energetically degenerate nucleation pathways. Across independent preparations and multiple structurally distinct derivatives, deterministic homochirality remains robust under diverse assembly conditions. Collectively, these results establish accessibility-biased nucleation as a distinct mechanism for deterministic symmetry breaking from achiral matter.
Reference;
Blackmond, D. G. The origin of biological homochirality. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 366, 2878-2884 (2011).
Reference;
Blackmond, D. G. The origin of biological homochirality. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 366, 2878-2884 (2011).
