Possible Physical Basis of Mirror Symmetry Effect in Racemic Mixtures of Enantiomers: From Wallach’s Rule, Nonlinear Effects, B–Z DNA Transition, and Similar Phenomena to Mirror Symmetry Effects of Chiral Objects

• Main Authors: Valerii A. Pavlov, Yaroslav V. Shushenachev, Sergey G. Zlotin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
• Series: Symmetry
• Subjects: racemate and mirror effect; C1- and C2-symmetric catalysis; Z-DNA defect; mirror neurons; baryonic asymmetry
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/12/6/889

Effects associated with mirror symmetry may be underlying for a number of phenomena in chemistry and physics. Increase in the density and melting point of the 50%L/50%D collection of enantiomers of a different sign (Wallach’s rule) is probably based on a physical effect of the mirror image. The catalytic activity of metal complexes with racemic ligands differs from the corresponding complexes with enantiomers as well (nonlinear effect). A similar difference in the physical properties of enantiomers and racemate underlies L/D inversion points of linear helical macromolecules, helical nanocrystals of magnetite and boron nitride etc., B–Z DNA transition and phenomenon of mirror neurons may have a similar nature. Here we propose an explanation of the Wallach effect along with some similar chemical, physical, and biological phenomena related to mirror image.