Enantioselective catalysis is a process in which a chiral catalyst is used to preferentially produce one enantiomer over the other in a chemical reaction, crucial for the synthesis of optically active compounds. This technique is vital in pharmaceuticals, as different enantiomers of a compound can have vastly different biological activities.

Enantioselective Catalysis

A chiral catalyst is a substance that facilitates a chemical reaction to produce a chiral product with a specific enantiomeric excess, crucial in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other biologically active compounds. These catalysts are essential for asymmetric synthesis, allowing for the preferential formation of one enantiomer over the other, thereby influencing the stereochemistry of the reaction outcome.

Chiral Catalyst

Enantiomers are a type of stereoisomer where two molecules are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, crucial in fields like pharmaceuticals due to their distinct biological activities. Their chirality results in different interactions with polarized light and biological receptors, making the study of enantiomers essential for understanding molecular behavior in chiral environments.

Enantiomer

A chemical reaction is a process where substances, known as reactants, are transformed into different substances, called products, through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. This transformation involves changes in energy and is governed by the principles of conservation of mass and energy.

Chemical Reaction

Optically active compounds

Pharmaceuticals are substances used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases and are crucial to modern medicine, encompassing a wide range of products from over-the-counter drugs to advanced biologics. The development and regulation of pharmaceuticals involve complex scientific, ethical, and legal considerations to ensure their safety and efficacy for public use.

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