Achiral amino acid glycine acts as an origin of homochirality in asymmetric autocatalysis.

Chiral crystals of the only achiral proteinogenic α-amino acid, glycine induced the asymmetric autocatalysis with amplification of enantiomeric excess (ee). The P31 crystals of γ-glycine, which display positive Cotton effect (CD) at around 215 nm, mediate the asymmetric autocatalysis to yield (R)-pyrimidyl alkanol with high ee. In contrast, the enantiomorphic P32 crystals, which display negative Cotton effect, afford (S)-alkanol after the significant amplification of ee by asymmetric autocatalysis.

Reversal of the sense of enantioselectivity between 1- and 2-aza[6]helicenes used as chiral inducers of asymmetric autocatalysis.

Reversal of the sense of enantioselectivity was observed between 1-aza[6]helicene 2 and 2-aza[6]helicene 3 employed as chiral inducers of asymmetric autocatalysis of pyrimidyl alkanol. In the presence of (P)-(+)-1-aza[6]helicene 2, the reaction of pyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde 1 with diisopropylzinc afforded, in conjunction with asymmetric autocatalysis, (S)-pyrimidyl alkanol 4 with high ee. Surprisingly, the reaction in the presence of (P)-(+)-2-aza[6]helicene 3 gave the opposite enantiomer of (R)-alkanol 4 with high ee. In the same manner, (M)-(-)-2 and (M)-(-)-3 afforded (R)- and (S)-alkanol 4, respectively. The sense of enantioselectivity is controlled not only by the helicity of the azahelicene derivatives but also by the position of the nitrogen atom.

Asymmetric Induction by a Nitrogen 14 N/15 N Isotopomer in Conjunction with Asymmetric Autocatalysis.

Chirality arising from isotope substitution, especially with atoms heavier than the hydrogen isotopes, is usually not considered a source of chirality in a chemical reaction. An N2 ,N2 ,N3 ,N3 -tetramethyl-2,3-butanediamine containing nitrogen (14 N/15 N) isotope chirality was synthesized and it was revealed that this isotopically chiral diamine compound acts as a chiral initiator for asymmetric autocatalysis.