Dynamic chiral self-recognition in aromatic dimers of styrene oxide revealed by rotational spectroscopy.

ABSTRACT: Chiral molecular recognition is a pivotal phenomenon in biomolecular science, governed by subtle balances of intermolecular forces that are difficult to quantify. Non-covalent interactions involving aromatic moieties are particularly important in this realm, as recurring motifs in biomolecular aggregation. In this work, we use high-resolution broadband rotational spectroscopy to probe the dynamic conformational landscape enclosing the self-pairing topologies of styrene oxide, a chiral aromatic system. We reach a definite assignment of four homochiral and two heterochiral dimers using auxiliary quantum chemistry calculations as well as structure-solving methods based on experimental isotopic information. A complete picture of the dimer conformational space is obtained, and plausible routes

SUBMITTER: Domingos SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9814401 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature