Chemistry in Three Dimensions

Abstract

Prior to van’t Hoff and Le Bel, chemistry was two-dimensional. Since 1874, however, we have had to deal with the third dimension in molecular models, projection formulae, configurational descriptors and, most recently, computer algorithms used to describe and specify configuration. The problem is complicated because chirality, an important aspect of three-dimensional structure, is an attribute of the molecule as a whole whereas the commonly used Cahn-Ingold-Prelog configurational descriptors require factorisation of chirality into individual chiral elements. This paper deals with the history of chirality and the present status of describing it.