Stereochemistry

Stereochemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that involves the study of the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules and their effects on the physical and chemical properties of substances. The term "stereochemistry" is derived from the Greek words "stereos" meaning solid, and "chemistry".

History

The concept of stereochemistry was first introduced by Pasteur, a French chemist, in the 19th century. He discovered that certain organic compounds could exist in two different forms, known as isomers, which differed only in the arrangement of atoms in space.

Types of Stereochemistry

There are several types of stereochemistry, including:

• Geometric Isomerism: This involves isomers which differ in the orientation of substituents around a double bond or a ring structure.

• Optical Isomerism: This involves isomers which are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, also known as enantiomers.

• Conformational Analysis: This involves the study of the different spatial arrangements of atoms in a molecule that result from rotation about single bonds.

Importance of Stereochemistry

Stereochemistry is crucial in various fields such as:

• Pharmaceuticals: The biological activity of drugs often depends on their stereochemistry. For example, one enantiomer of a drug may be beneficial while the other may be harmful.

• Biochemistry: Many biochemical reactions are stereospecific, meaning they require a specific spatial arrangement of atoms in the reactant molecules.

• Material Science: The properties of many materials, such as polymers, depend on the stereochemistry of their constituent molecules.

See Also

• Chirality
• Stereoisomerism
• Stereochemical Nomenclature