Problems and exercisesAsymmetric autocatalysis: the Soai reaction
Exercise 1
A sample of the Soai alkanol has 0.00005% ee. What is its enantiomeric ratio? Why can a reaction catalysed by an ordinary chiral catalyst, with no nonlinear effect or autocatalysis, not give a product with a higher ee than that of the catalyst?
Exercise 2
In the addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde, (−)-DAIB of 15% ee gives (S)-1-phenylpropan-1-ol in 95% ee. Explain this positive nonlinear effect. What would be observed if the heterochiral dimer were less stable than the homochiral ones and also catalysed the reaction?