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. 1996 Oct 15;93(21):11435–11442. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.21.11435

Mirror symmetry breaking at the molecular level.

V Avetisov 1, V Goldanskii 1
PMCID: PMC38075  PMID: 8876153

Abstract

Reasoning from two basic principles of molecular physics, P invariance of electromagnetic interaction and the second law of thermodynamics, one would conclude that mirror symmetry retained in the world of chiral molecules. This inference is fully consistent with what is observed in inorganic nature. However, in the bioorganic world, the reverse is true. Mirror symmetry there is definitely broken. Is it possible to account for this phenomenon without going beyond conventional concepts of the kinetics of enantioselective processes? This study is an attempt to survey all existing hypotheses containing this phenomenon.

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