In
chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the elements that make up matter to the compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, proper ...
, the term ''supramolecular chirality'' is used to describe
supramolecular assemblies
In chemistry, a supramolecular assembly is a complex of molecules held together by noncovalent bonds. While a supramolecular assembly can be simply composed of two molecules (e.g., a DNA double helix or an inclusion compound), or a defined nu ...
that are non-superposable on their mirror images.
Chirality
Chirality is a property of asymmetry important in several branches of science. The word ''chirality'' is derived from the Greek (''kheir''), "hand", a familiar chiral object.
An object or a system is ''chiral'' if it is distinguishable from ...
in
supramolecular chemistry
Supramolecular chemistry refers to the branch of chemistry concerning chemical systems composed of a discrete number of molecules. The strength of the forces responsible for spatial organization of the system range from weak intermolecular forces ...
implies the non-symmetric arrangement of molecular components in a non-covalent assembly. Chirality may arise in a
supramolecular system if one of its component is chiral or if achiral components arrange in a non symmetrical way to produce a
supermolecule that is chiral.
References
{{chiral synthesis
Chirality
Stereochemistry