stereoizomerów

Stereoisomers are a type of isomer that have the same molecular formula and the same connectivity of atoms but differ in the three-dimensional arrangement of their atoms in space. This difference in spatial arrangement can lead to distinct physical and chemical properties, even though the atoms are bonded in the same sequence.

There are two main types of stereoisomers: enantiomers and diastereomers. Enantiomers are stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. They are like left and right hands; they have the same components but are oriented differently. Enantiomers often have identical physical properties such as melting point and boiling point, but they can differ significantly in their interaction with other chiral molecules, such as enzymes in biological systems, or in their optical activity (the ability to rotate plane-polarized light).

Diastereomers are stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other. This can occur in molecules with more than one chiral center. For example, a molecule with two chiral centers can have up to four stereoisomers, two of which are enantiomeric pairs, and the other two are diastereomers to each other and to the first pair. Diastereomers generally have different physical and chemical properties, including different melting points, boiling points, and solubilities. They also exhibit different reactivity. The concept of stereoisomerism is crucial in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and biochemistry, as the specific three-dimensional arrangement of atoms can dramatically affect a molecule's function and behavior.