Physicists have learned to control the mirror forms of molecules

The developed technique consists of irradiating chiral microparticles in the gas phase,

UV radiation and microwaves. As a result, right- and left-handed molecules (or enantiomers) are transferred to different rotational states due to changes in microwave radiation. 

"The trick is to expose themelectromagnetic radiation in such a way that only one “arm”, that is, one enantiomer, reacts,” says Sandra Eibenberger-Arias, head of the research team.

Although complete separation of enantiomers cannot yet be achieved using this method, it is noteworthy that they can be successfully controlled with it. 

The development of scientists opens the door to moredeep understanding and manipulation of this common type of molecule. This is important because enantiomers sometimes have very different biological and chemical properties for which explanations are sought. So, for example, a chiral molecule of carvone, a natural substance from the terpenoid family: one “hand” smells like mint, the other like caraway. Or the drug thalidomide: while one form causes sedation, the other causes birth defects. 

Chirality (from the Greek word chiros - hand) -the property of a molecule not to be combined in space with its mirror image. Chirality of molecules was discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1848. If a molecule is chiral, it exists in two mirror-image versions that are very similar but not identical—like two hands that are mirror images but cannot be aligned with each other in space.

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