Asymmetric photolysis with elliptically polarized light.

Previous investigations have shown the efficacy of right-(RCPL) and left-(LCPL) circularly polarized light in promoting the asymmetric photolysis of racemic organic substrates and producing measurable enantiomeric excesses (e.e.s) when photolysis is incomplete. Synchrotron radiation, polychromatic and having out-of-plane components which are elliptically and ultimately circularly polarized, has been suggested as a universal source of RCPL and LCPL on a cosmic scale. The more prevalent right-(REPL) and left-(LEPL) elliptically polarized components have never been investigated for similar capabilities. The present study, using a 212.8 nm laser beam to mimic the synchtrotron radiation, explores the potential of REPL and LEPL in this context and finds a qualitative trend indicating that each induces asymmetric photolysis in the same sense as RCPL and LCPL, but to a lesser degree.