As early as 1874 van't Hoff and Le Bel introduced the concept of antipodes for molecules containing an asymmetric carbon atom. This was the first insight into the spacial arrangement of atoms in a mole- cule. These antipodes exhibit opposite optical rotatory power, but it was not possible to determine specific configuration and direction of the rotatory power. The convention of Fischer, however, gained general acceptance. Eighty years later Bijvoet and his co-workers showed that the Fischer convention happens to be in agreement with reality (I 951). Organic stereochemistry is that of...
As early as 1874 van't Hoff and Le Bel introduced the concept of antipodes for molecules containing an asymmetric carbon atom. This was the first insi...
