Recognition of R- and S-Isomers of α-Alanine by Chiral Nanotubes

Abstract

DFT PBE/3ζ study of relative stability of the R- and S-isomers of α-alanine in open carbon nanotubes with chirality indices (5,5), P,M-(5,1) and P,M-(5,2) has shown that the encapsulated molecule of the amino acid notably changes its geometrical and electronic characteristics. Besides, for the clusters α-alanine@nano (5,2) the most stable are practically degenerate in energy adducts S-alanine@P-(5,2) and R-alanine@М-(5,2). All this indicates the ability of chiral nanotubes to recognize encapsulated molecules of the R- and S-isomers.