Abstract
In earlier studies, we have collected experimental evidence (mostly from thin‐layer chromatography and polarimetry) on the spontaneous oscillatory in vitro chiral conversion of simple carboxylic acids dissolved in 70% aqueous ethanol. To elucidate this phenomenon, we developed a simple theoretical model of two linked Templators. Recently, we have obtained additional experimental evidence of the spontaneous condensation of chiral carboxylic acids, based on the biuret test (amino acids), high performance liquid chromatography, and 13C NMR spectroscopy (profens and hydroxy acids). We briefly describe our experimental results in the context of the existing literature and outline an improved theoretical model for these phenomena. Our system resembles in some respects the reported oscillatory condensation of organic silanols. Here, the key reaction is the formation of carboxylic acid‐derived enols. Finally, we discuss the importance of the oscillatory chiral conversion of simple carboxylic acids for biochemistry, pharmacology, and related life sciences.
We present experimental evidence of the spontaneous condensation of chiral carboxylic acids and of spontaneous in vitro oscillatory chiral conversion of selected profens, amino acids, and hydroxy acids. We describe two theoretical models that are able to account for the observed oscillatory behavior.