Applications of Optical Isomerism
Here are some of the critical applications:
- Pharmaceuticals: Optical isomerism is crucial in the pharmaceutical industry as enantiomers of a drug molecule can exhibit different pharmacological activities. For example, one enantiomer may be therapeutically effective while the other may be inactive or even show adverse effects. Separating and using only the desired enantiomer is essential to ensure the safety and adequacy of pharmaceuticals.
- Chemical Synthesis: In chemical synthesis, the production of single enantiomers is often a focus due to their specific properties. Modern chiral synthesis techniques are used to separate and produce single enantiomers, which are essential in drug discovery and development.
- Coordination Chemistry: Optical isomerism is also relevant in coordination chemistry, particularly in the study of metal complexes. Metal complexes can exhibit optical isomerism, which affects their reactivity and properties.
- Biological Systems: Optical isomerism is significant in biological systems, as enantiomers can have different interactions with enzymes and other biological molecules. It has implications for understanding biological processes and developing pharmaceuticals.
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Optical Isomerism
Optical Isomerism is a property of Organic Compounds in which they have the same molecular and structural formula but they can’t superimpose on each other. This is due to the different arrangement of carbon atoms in three-dimensional space. The structures exhibiting Optical isomerism are called Optical Isomers. Optical Isomerism is one of the most important concepts in Organic Chemistry and helps to understand various difficult reactions.
In this article, we will learn what is optical isomerism, its significance, types, examples and many more things.
Table of Content
- What is Optical Isomerism?
- Optical Isomer Definition
- Chiral and Achiral Molecules
- What are Enantiomers?
- Type of Optical Isomers
- Structural Isomers vs Optical Isomers