Absolute Structure Determination in Absence of Heavy Scatterers

Methods of absolute structure determination for molecules containing only light atoms (C, H, N, O) are discussed in the paper. This experimentally difficult problem has a direct application in the structure determination of naturally originated compounds and modern chiral drugs. Several experimental methods of absolute structure determination like electron diffraction, multiple X-ray diffraction and X-ray anomalous scattering techniques are briefly discussed and compared. An application of dedicated azimuthal scan method for the case of hexamethylenetetramine is given as an illustration of this technique.