Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Voxalytic GmbH have introduced a groundbreaking technique that, for the first time, clarifies the chiral structure of molecules—meaning the precise 3D arrangement of atoms—using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This crucial advancement in drug development has traditionally been a lengthy and complex process. However, this innovative approach may soon become a standard asset in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields. The findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials.
The concept of chirality in molecules refers to their distinct configurations: some molecules exist as pairs known as enantiomers, which are essentially mirror images of each other—similar to how a right and left glove differ. The specific orientation, whether left-handed or right-handed, affects how these molecules interact in biochemical and chemical reactions. Even though they may look similar, their properties can vary dramatically, sometimes opposing one another.
In the pharmaceutical context, this variability can lead to serious issues. For instance, in the 1960s, the drug “Contergan” (or “Thalidomid”) was linked to severe birth defects in children when it was given to pregnant women for treating nausea. This led to its ban and established a requirement for pharmaceutical companies to verify that their chiral compounds do not convert into their mirror-image counterparts within the human body.
This Method Streamlines Drug Ingredient Research
A research team from KIT and Voxalytic GmbH (a spin-off from KIT and the University of Freiburg), headed by Professor Jan Korvink, who leads the Institute of Microstructure Technology at KIT, has successfully measured the chiral structure of molecules directly using NMR spectroscopy.
Previously, while NMR spectroscopy was recognized as the only technique to determine chemical structures at an atomic level under normal conditions, it had previously failed to detect molecular chirality. Until now, optical methods that could identify the direction of twist were used, but they didn’t provide atomic resolution.
“We are thrilled about the potential to develop this method into a practical tool for the industry, and we have already patented the concept,” shares Jan Korvink. According to Dr. Sagar Wadhwa from Voxalytic, who researched this topic for his doctoral thesis, “This could establish chirality analysis as a standard NMR method, simplifying the work for chemists focused on creating specific enantiomers.” Dr. Dominque Buyens, a biochemist and postdoctoral researcher at KIT, further remarks: “We aim to explore this new method’s applications in drug development, which could dramatically speed up drug screening processes.”
