• Nano-Micro Letters
  • Vol. 15, Issue 1, 211 (2023)
Chen Yang1、†, Weilin Hu1、†, and Xuefeng Guo1、2、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 292 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, People’s Republic of China
  • 2Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China
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    DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01184-5 Cite this Article
    Chen Yang, Weilin Hu, Xuefeng Guo. Precise Detection, Control and Synthesis of Chiral Compounds at Single-Molecule Resolution[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2023, 15(1): 211 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Chirality, as the symmetric breaking of molecules, plays an essential role in physical, chemical and especially biological processes, which highlights the accurate distinction among heterochiralities as well as the precise preparation for homochirality. To this end, the well-designed structure-specific recognizer and catalysis reactor are necessitated, respectively. However, each kind of target molecules requires a custom-made chiral partner and the dynamic disorder of spatial-orientation distribution of molecules at the ensemble level leads to an inefficient protocol. In this perspective article, we developed a universal strategy capable of realizing the chirality detection and control by the external symmetry breaking based on the alignment of the molecular frame to external stimuli. Specifically, in combination with the discussion about the relationship among the chirality (molecule), spin (electron) and polarization (photon), i.e., the three natural symmetry breaking, single-molecule junctions were proposed to achieve a single-molecule/event-resolved detection and synthesis. The fixation of the molecular orientation and the CMOS-compatibility provide an efficient interface to achieve the external input of symmetry breaking. This perspective is believed to offer more efficient applications in accurate chirality detection and precise asymmetric synthesis via the close collaboration of chemists, physicists, materials scientists, and engineers.
    Chen Yang, Weilin Hu, Xuefeng Guo. Precise Detection, Control and Synthesis of Chiral Compounds at Single-Molecule Resolution[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2023, 15(1): 211
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