chiroptische

Chiroptische refers to phenomena and properties related to chirality in optics. Chirality is a geometric property of molecules where an object is non-superimposable on its mirror image, much like a left hand is non-superimposable on its right hand. In the context of optics, chiral molecules interact differently with left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized light.

This differential interaction leads to several observable effects. Optical activity is the most common chiroptische phenomenon, where a chiral substance rotates the plane of linearly polarized light. This rotation can be either clockwise (dextrorotatory, denoted by + or d) or counterclockwise (levorotatory, denoted by - or l). The magnitude of this rotation depends on the concentration of the chiral substance, the path length of the light through the sample, and the wavelength of the light.

Another related chiroptische phenomenon is circular dichroism (CD). CD occurs when a chiral molecule absorbs left and right circularly polarized light to different extents. This difference in absorption can be measured and provides valuable information about the three-dimensional structure of chiral molecules, particularly biomolecules like proteins and DNA. Spectroscopic techniques like circular dichroism spectroscopy are widely used in chemistry, biology, and pharmacology to study molecular structure, conformation, and interactions. Understanding chiroptische properties is crucial in fields such as drug development, where enantiomers of a drug can have vastly different biological activities and toxicities.