[O] latex export of words starting with a superscript

[Brian]

Dear list,
this is my first time posting here so: thanks for all the work on 
org-mode! I like the new changes (although the new variable names were a 
pain).
This is either a feature request, a complaint or a demonstration of my 
lack of knowledge of org-mode.

When export latex of words starting with a superscript or subscript, the 
caret or underscore is escaped unless preceded with something other than 
a space, such that I have to use \space^{14}C for a carbon radioisotope. 
I do not need this when when exporting to html.

Org-mode version 8.0.1 (8.0.1-6-ge6776c-elpa @ 
/home/onb134/.emacs.d/elpa/org-20130422/)

GNU Emacs 24.3.1 (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu, X toolkit, Xaw3d scroll bars) of 
2013-04-14 on chindi10, modified by Debian

I like things to be controlled and set:
(setq org-use-sub-superscripts "{}")

but it doesn't make a difference whether this is set or not.

It would be nice if this could be implemented, but I am aware of the 
difficulties/conflicts given that underlining needs a word to start with 
"_". Maybe some nice regexp work.

Thanks!
Brian