Contrived a new method to separate molecules especulares on graphite
The quiralidad is the property of an object of not being superponible with his image especular. This characteristic is present, to scale macroscopic and microscopic, in the human body, for example, in the hands, since the left is not superponible with his image especular (the right hand). The separation of two enantiómeros is important for the development of drugs, since, in a lot of occasions, only one of them has the biological activity wished and only one results useful, although both have identical the majority of his properties.
The new method consists in separating the enantiómeros by means of the adsorption, of selective form, of one of them on the surface of the graphite, that previously has been covered of a layer of a chemical compound of a molecule of thickness. “This molecule is designed to attract and absorb one of the enantiómeros, but no the another. Like this willing, is able to recognise enantiómeros different”, explains the researcher of the CSIC David Amabilino, that works in the Institute of Science of Materials of Barcelona.
By means of a microscope of effect tunnel, able to take images to atomic level, the researchers, in collaboration with a Belgian team, have studied of experimental form the layers that formed in the graphite. Also they employed computational simulations to predict what would occur to molecular level.
Design molecules that comport of a determinate way on a surface can carry to the potential design of materials with a specific chemical utility, in this case, the separation of molecules quirales, in which crowd of chemical products and chemists are based.
The study freamers in the project Resolve (Bottom-up Resolution of Functional Enantiomers from Self-Organised Monolayers), an initiative of the VII Program Mark of the European Union for the study of the molecules quirales and the optimisation of his applications in the industry.
