150 Years of the Tetrahedral Carbon: A Toast to Chirality

Abstract

We have recently celebrated the 150th anniversary of the tetrahedral carbon (1874–2024), as postulated by van't Hoff and Le Bel, who published their seminal breakthrough only 2-months apart, on September 5 and November 5, 1874, respectively. The concept is a fundamental pillar of structural chemistry and, if we may say so, of molecular sciences. How two young men in their early careers dared to disturb the established way of thinking constitutes the jumping-off of scientific theories as constructive elements, rather than arguments derived from experiments. Chirality makes no sense without geometry. Nor can we interpret a molecular scenario devoid of spatial considerations. All in all, a felicitous celebration to be highlighted.