Mirror-Image Asymmetry: An Introduction to the Origin and Consequences of Chirality
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.16 (521 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0470387599 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 250 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-12-02 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Michael Gross said on the importance of handedness. The "handedness" that allows us to tell the left glove from the right one is a very important concept in chemistry but not often appreciated, much less popularized. Chemists call it chirality (the fact that Microsoft Word draws a red squiggle underneath this word shows how much it is underappreciated). Having the wrong version of a molecule can have catastrophic consequences as in the case of thalidomide, where one version produced the desired medical effect, while its mirror-image is held responsible for the characteristic malformations.Author James Riehl, a professo. Interesting introduction to the topic. Antigone Smith The subject matter in this book is fascinating. I am surprised I went through an undergraduate education (partially as a biology major) without ever being exposed to the idea of chirality. I think the book went on a bit too long in regards to the impact of left-handedness in baseball, but overall this was a great introduction to an interesting and complex topic.. Four Stars Mohamed Elsherbini Very good
"Riehl should be commended for presenting an understable introduction to chirality to such a wide audience." (Choice, October 2010).
Riehl is a frequent invited speaker nationally and internationally on the topic of molecular chirality, and is the author of numerous research publications in the applications of optical spectroscopy to the study of chiral structures. RIEHL received a BS degree in chemistry from Villanova University in 1970 and a PhD in physical chemistry from Purdue University in 1975. He was the recipient of the St. JAMES P. Dr. Louis
This knowledge is leading to very sophisticated asymmetric synthetic techniques that have greatly benefitted many research groups especially those in the pharmaceutical industry. The book features:An introduction to basic definitions and the nomenclature of asymmetric and dissymmetric moleculesUp-to-date examples of the importance and consequences of asymmetry in modern drug applications, current theories of the origin of asymmetry in nature, and examples of molecular asymmetry in smell, taste, and insect communicationMany illustrations, chemical structures, and photographs that enable the reader to connect the actual asymmetrical structures to the different phenomena that depend on structural asymmetryIn the 150 years since Louis Pasteur discovered asymmetry in molecular structures, scientists have made great progress in understanding how interactions between chi