Stereizomers

Stereoisomers are a type of isomer, which are molecules with the same molecular formula but different arrangements of atoms in space. Specifically, stereoisomers have the same connectivity of atoms but differ in their three-dimensional orientation. This difference in spatial arrangement leads to distinct physical and chemical properties.

There are two main categories of stereoisomers: enantiomers and diastereomers. Enantiomers are stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. They are often described as "left-handed" and "right-handed" versions of the same molecule. Enantiomers have identical physical properties like melting point and boiling point, but they can differ in their interaction with plane-polarized light (optical activity) and with other chiral molecules. Diastereomers, on the other hand, are stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other. Diastereomers can arise in molecules with multiple chiral centers or in molecules containing double bonds that restrict rotation. Unlike enantiomers, diastereomers generally have different physical properties. Understanding stereoisomerism is crucial in fields like organic chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology, as the biological activity of many molecules is highly dependent on their specific three-dimensional structure.