My watch list

Planar chirality

Planar chirality is the special case of chirality for two dimensions.

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Visual Balance Check

How to quickly check pipettes?

Better weighing performance in 6 easy steps

This term is frequently used in chemistry context: There chirality exists for example for a molecule which does not possess an asymmetric chiral carbon atom but perpendicular disymmetric planes due to restricted rotation around a chemical bond in the molecule. Planar chirality is most commonly encountered in compounds like (E)-cyclooctene, some di-substituted ferrocenes, and certain monosubstituted paracyclophanes. Nature rarely provides planar chiral molecules; cavicularin being an exception.

However, planar chirality is basically a mathematical term, finding use in natural sciences like areas of physics, namely astronomy, optics and metamaterials. Recent occurrences in latter two fields are dominated by microwave applications and micro- and nanostructured planar interfaces for visible and infrared light.

v • d • e Concepts in asymmetric synthesis
Nomenclature	Chirality, Stereocenter, Stereoisomer, Enantiomer, Diastereomer, Meso compound, Planar chirality, Chiral ligand, Axial chirality
Analysis	Optical rotation, Enantiomeric excess, Diastereomeric excess, Chiral derivitizing agents
Chiral resolution	Crystallization, Kinetic resolution, Chiral column chromatography
Reactions	Asymmetric induction, Chiral pool synthesis, Chiral auxiliaries, Asymmetric catalytic reduction, Asymmetric catalytic oxidation, Organocatalysis, Biocatalysis