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Enantioselective

Enantioselective refers to a process, reaction, or catalyst that favors the formation or transformation of one enantiomer over its mirror image in a chiral compound. The term is central to asymmetric synthesis and is also relevant to biosynthetic pathways and methods for separating racemic mixtures.

Enantiomers are pairs of molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images. In achiral environments they exhibit identical

Measurement of enantioselectivity is commonly done using enantiomeric excess (ee), defined as ee = |R − S| / (R

Methods to achieve enantioselectivity include asymmetric catalysis, which uses chiral catalysts or ligands (metal-based or organocatalytic)

Applications are widespread in chemistry and the life sciences. Enantioselectivity is crucial in drug development, since

physical
properties,
but
they
can
interact
differently
with
polarized
light
and
with
biological
systems,
often
resulting
in
distinct
pharmacological
or
toxicological
effects.
+
S)
×
100%,
where
R
and
S
are
the
amounts
of
the
two
enantiomers.
A
high
ee
indicates
a
strong
preference
for
one
enantiomer.
The
enantiomeric
ratio
(ER)
expresses
the
relative
amounts
or
rates
of
the
two
enantiomers
as
major
to
minor.
Related
concepts
include
diastereoselectivity
when
multiple
stereocenters
are
present.
to
bias
the
formation
of
one
enantiomer;
the
use
of
chiral
auxiliaries
to
induce
stereocontrol;
resolution
of
racemates
to
separate
enantiomers.
Dynamic
kinetic
resolution
combines
racemization
of
the
undesired
enantiomer
with
selective
transformation
to
maximize
the
yield
of
a
single
enantiomer.
enantiomers
can
differ
in
efficacy
and
safety,
and
is
a
foundational
principle
in
many
industrial
syntheses
and
enzymatic
processes.