6.7 Specifications of Stereochemistry
197
6.7.3
Concluding Remarks
The author is well aware of the fact that many chemists still advocate use
of the traditional R/S symbols also for at least some, if not all, compound
types with helical stereogenic units, even if these are not in concordance
with the proper helicity descriptors as in the case of axially chiral compounds where P "# Ra ~ M and M "# Sa ~ P. For the sake of consistency,
though, it appears highly advisable to discern the clearly distinct modes of
stereogenicity - tripodal on the one hand versus helical (4-point figure) on
the other - not only at the conceptunallevel but also with respect to the
appertaining descriptors, hic R/S illic P/M.
197
6.7.3
Concluding Remarks
The author is well aware of the fact that many chemists still advocate use
of the traditional R/S symbols also for at least some, if not all, compound
types with helical stereogenic units, even if these are not in concordance
with the proper helicity descriptors as in the case of axially chiral compounds where P "# Ra ~ M and M "# Sa ~ P. For the sake of consistency,
though, it appears highly advisable to discern the clearly distinct modes of
stereogenicity - tripodal on the one hand versus helical (4-point figure) on
the other - not only at the conceptunallevel but also with respect to the
appertaining descriptors, hic R/S illic P/M.