Lacking all symmetry elements (other than the trivial one of a one-fold axis of symmetry),
i.e. belonging to the symmetry
point group
. The term has been used loosely (and incorrectly) to describe the absence of a rotation–reflection
axis (alternating axis) in a molecule, i.e. as meaning
chiral, and this usage persists in the traditional terms
asymmetric carbon atom,
asymmetric synthesis,
asymmetric induction, etc.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2193
(Basic terminology of stereochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 2199
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
