A Chiral-Label-Free SERS Strategy for the Synchronous Chiral Discrimination and Identification of Small Aromatic Molecules.

A versatile and robust chiral discrimination strategy for small aromatic compounds is of significant importance in multidisciplinary fields. However, most current methods lack either the sufficient sensitivity for recognizing the chirality of the target molecules or their molecular specificity information. We have developed a versatile and chiral-label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based chiral discrimination sensing system for small aromatic molecules, where the molecular structural specificity and enantioselectivity can be given synchronously in a single SERS spectrum. More than 10 types of chiral aromatic molecules were successfully identified by using this system. This work has enormous potential for recognizing chiral products effectively in sophisticated systems, especially in the fields of chiral synthesis and chiral catalysis.