Kinetic Evidence for a Tetrameric Transition State in the Asymmetric Autocatalytic Alkylation of Pyrimidyl Aldehydes

Experimental kinetic data coupled with kinetic modeling implicates a tetrameric transition state in the Soai autocatalytic alkylation of pyrimidyl aldehydes. The kinetic model accurately predicts both the reaction rate and the amplification in enantiomeric excess observed in reactions carried out under a wide range of conditions. These studies reveal the Soai reaction to be an example of true autocatalytic efficiency in a template-directed "minimal system" for self-replication.