| Abstract
| - Modification of solid surfaces using chiral agents is perhaps the most promising avenue for bestowing chirality onto heterogeneous catalysts, and with that developing cheap and clean processes for the synthesis of enantiopure compounds. Unfortunately, in spite of the ample interest in the pharmaceutical, agro, and fine-chemical industries, no viable chiral heterogeneous catalysts have been identified yet for use in practical applications. Chiral modification of surfaces has proven to depend in complex ways on a large number of parameters, a fact that makes the empirical development of enantioselective heterogeneous catalysts nearly impossible; a more comprehensive approach is needed to better navigate through such a multivariable field. To address this problem, several surface-science groups have recently focused on developing the basic molecular-level understanding of the chemistry involved. Here we present a brief state-of-the-art report of this research area, with emphasis on the advances made by our own group.
|
