First absolute asymmetric synthesis with circularly polarized synchrotron radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet region: direct photoderacemization of (E)-cyclooctene

Abstract

A newly developed polarizing undulator installed in a storage ring was employed for the first time as a source of circularly polarized synchrotron radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet to effect enantiodifferentiating direct photoisomerization of (E)-cyclooctene; the photolysis is taken as a terrestrial mimic or proof of extraterrestrial absolute asymmetric synthesis on interstellar grains by the polarized synchrotron radiation from fast electrons orbiting a neutron star, which is thought to be a distant origin of the homochirality in the biosphere.