The Role of Dissymmetry 97 



In the third place : asymmetric catalysis with the help of dissymmetrical crystals 

 of minerals. Schwab and his colleagues were the first (1932-34) to bring about the 

 asymmetric destruction of butan-2-ol using, as catalysts, finely divided metals 

 on crystals of dextro- and laevo-quariz. Later (1950-53) [3] we extended this 

 method considerably, bringing about a number of asymmetric syntheses with 

 different catalysts on quartz crystals imder many variable conditions. In addition 

 syntheses were brought about in solution at ordinary temperatures using a layer 

 of alkah on crystalline quartz. 



This gives us reason to suppose that, under natural conditions, quite compli- 

 cated syntheses could have taken place on the surface of dissynmietric crystals of 

 minerals with the formation of optically active compounds of high molecular 

 weight. 



The only objection to the supposition that the first dissymmetrical compounds 

 could have arisen in this way is the fact that, in nature, there is no predominance 

 of optically active crystals of one sign. One antipode is always accompanied by 

 an equal amoimt of the other in the formations in which it occurs as found by 

 G. G. Lemmlein in the case of quartz. 



If we assume that the sole causes determining the dissymmetry of the pri- 

 maeval protoplasm were minerals then, in order to arrive at an explanation for 

 the one-sided dissymmetry of the natural amino acids, we should have to pos- 

 tulate a one-sided dissymmetry of the crystals of geological formations. We have 

 no basis for doing so. Thus, there must be some dissymmetrical, natural factors 

 which would make it possible for one form of complicated organic molecule to 

 come into being and become predominant. 



It is possible that these were the right circularly polarized light which, in 

 the view of physicists, is present in the scattered sunlight. 



In the coastal zone of the primaeval ocean where life probably arose, amino 

 acids could form complex compounds with iron, copper, vanadium, magnesium 

 and other metals. This led to a considerable, selective absorption of light owing 

 to the circular dichroism of such complexes. The preferential destruction of 

 D-amino acids by light could have led to the development of the L-forms and 

 their products. 



In this connection it is possible to approach the problem of the formation 

 of petroleums from a new standpoint. Until now the presence of optically active 

 substances in petroleums has been considered as an incontrovertible proof of 

 their biogenic origin. Nevertheless, petrolevmi has undoubtedly undergone a 

 number of chemical transformations in the depths of the Earth involving the 

 catalytic activity of various siHcates and other formations. Among these there 

 might have been some in which crystals of one particular sign predominated. 

 The optical activity of petroleum might thus have arisen purely abiogenicaUy. 



By using the method of asymmetric catalysis it has been possible to discover 

 the dissynmietrical structure of minerals and formations with which the ordinary 

 crystallographic methods have been ineffective. For this the asymmetric synthesis 

 of an organic compound by catalysis based on the mineral under investigation 

 must be reahzed. The appearance of optical activity in the catalysate serves as 

 indisputable proof of the dissymmetry of the catalyst. 



7 



