The Origin of Homochirality by Rotational Magnetoelectrochemistry

The origin of homochirality by rotational magnetoelectrochemistry was theoretically examined. Electrochemical reductions in a rotating solution under a static vertical magnetic field were concluded to yield microscopic vortices with L-activity for enantiomeric reagents, whereas D-active vortices arise from electrochemical oxidation. The reduction case was experimentally verified by rotational magnetoelectrodeposition (RMED) of copper films using an electrolysis cell rotating in a magnetic field, where L-active screw dislocations were created by L-active microscopic vortices. In all the cases of the directions of magnetic polarity and system rotation, the RMED films exhibited L-activity for the enantiomeric reactions of amino acids.