Stereoselectivity in Synthesis

Chiral molecules come in "right-handed" or "left-handed" forms which look the same in 2D but are mirror images of each other. These molecules do not behave in the same way and react differently towards enzymes. A good example of this can be seen in Thalidomide where the "left-handed" molecule acts as a sedative but the "right-handed" molecule causes severe birth defects. Stereochemistry is the study of these molecules. This text should be of interest to chemists who are planning a synthesis. Organic chemists must choose the best methods for making the preferred form, and how to achieve this has become a focal point in organic synthesis research. The book uses examples from the synthetic literature to demonstrate how the basic principles of organic stereochemistry apply; is designed to present information in a concise and readable fashion; and it incorporates hundreds of reaction schemes.