[AhBeng]

Do isotopes count toward optical isomerism?

Say we have a carbon, bonded to two different R groups, a hydrogen (ie. protium) and a deuterium. Is the carbon considered chiral, and does it rotate plane polarized light?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[sjb]

Yes, these are still enantiomers, typically the alpha-D in these cases is very small, but still measurable.

[AhBeng]

Yes, these are still enantiomers, typically the alpha-D in these cases is very small, but still measurable.

Thank you ('snacks') sjb, for your illuminating reply in this intriguing matter.

On a related note, I also find it intriguing that although usually isotopic variants affect physical properties rather than chemical properties, heavy water (D2O or dideuterium monoxide) is biochemically toxic (even fatal) to humans and living organisms.

Wikipidia on toxicity of Heavy Water :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_water

[sanderol]

Chemistry is about electrons ...not about nuclei  (at least mostly)

But I always wonder how the rotation of polarized light by a chiral centre works. Its an interaction of the magnetic field with the field of a molecule? But in solution there is no anisotropy so why would this result in a certain rotation?