What are stereoisomers and what is their importance?

If they are exact mirror images they are called enantiomers, otherwise they are called diastereomers. Stereoisomers are critically important in biochemistry and medicine because nearly every biological molecule – amino acids, sugars, fats, enzymes, etc – has one or more stereoisomer.

Why is stereochemistry important in drug design?

Stereochemistry is of critical importance to drug action because the shape of a drug molecule is an important factor in determining how it interacts with the various biological molecules (enzymes, receptors, etc.) that it encounters in the body.

What are called stereoisomers?

In stereochemistry, stereoisomerism, or spatial isomerism, is a form of isomerism in which molecules have the same molecular formula and sequence of bonded atoms (constitution), but differ in the three-dimensional orientations of their atoms in space.

Why is Stereoisomerism important in biochemical systems?

Isomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. Most drugs are often composed of a single stereoisomer of a compound, and while one stereoisomer may have positive effects on the body the other may have negative effects. …

How is Stereoisomerism important to human life?

Another good example of the importance of stereochemistry is pharmaceutical production and the break down of drugs in the body. Most drugs are often composed of a single stereoisomer of a compound, and while one stereoisomer may have positive effects on the body the other may have negative effects.

What are examples of stereoisomers?

For example, 1,2-dichloroethene can exist as the cis isomer, with both Cl atoms on the same side of the double bond, or as the trans isomer, with the Cl atoms on opposite sides of the double bond. Cis and trans isomers have different physical and chemical properties.

What is stereoisomers and its types?

Stereoisomers are a type of isomer where the order of the atoms in the two molecules is the same but their arrangement in space is different. The two main types of stereoisomerism are: Diastereomerism (including ‘cis-trans isomerism’) Optical Isomerism (also known as ‘enantiomerism’ and ‘chirality’)