CACTUS

The proposed research program aims to achieve three important breakthroughs in the field of molecular chirality: 1) The first experimental demonstration of charge-controlled reactivity in chiral molecules. This will be achieved by exploiting ultrafast photoinduced electron-driven dynamics, building on our previous observations of electronic coherences in methyl-lactate molecules. 2) Mapping the real-time intermolecular chiral recognition process that is ubiquitous in chemistry and biology. This will be achieved through time-resolved pump-probe photoelectron circular dichroism measurements with a time resolution of a few femtoseconds. 3) Study of coherent electron dynamics and chiral recognition with site specificity. We will build on the knowledge acquired in goals 1 and 2 and apply for beam times at free electron laser systems (FLASH and EuXFEL, Hamburg).