CHED 1520 |
| Pasteur's discovery of enantiomeric pairs of optically active molecules demonstrated that the intimate connection between chirality and optical activity phenomena is derived from the different responses to right-and left-circularly polarized light by molecules of opposite handedness. We will discuss why our deeper understanding of the essential role of chirality for the structure and function of all biological system requires more advanced experimental measurements and analysis of optical activity data. We shall also rationalize the relationship between the stereostructure of selected chiral molecules and their response to plain or circular polarized light, namely, optical rotation or differential absorption (Circular Dichroism), respectively, by using molecular models and/or computational methods. |
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Teaching Stereochemistry in the Undergraduate Curriculum
8:30 AM-11:05 AM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- HEC C, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |