Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Chiral synthesis

fitlaurz - 7-1-2004 at 08:55

What are the best methods when seperating racemic mixtures into the enantiomers?

chemoleo - 7-1-2004 at 10:22

Maybe you would like to work with enzymes that synthesise your compound, they are stereoselective. A lot of bioactive compounds are made this way industrially, for the fear of one enantiomer causing havoc...
Else...crystallise, and handpick crystals with mirrored orientations... but thats gonna be tricky ;)
There are other ways, which I once knew, but they are not easy ... maybe someone else can help out here :)

guaguanco - 7-1-2004 at 11:14

Quote:
Originally posted by chemoleo
Maybe you would like to work with enzymes that synthesise your compound, they are stereoselective. A lot of bioactive compounds are made this way industrially, for the fear of one enantiomer causing havoc...
Else...crystallise, and handpick crystals with mirrored orientations... but thats gonna be tricky ;)
There are other ways, which I once knew, but they are not easy ... maybe someone else can help out here :)


In general, one creates a salt or simple derivative of the compound, using an optically pure chemical:
racemic amine + (-)camphorsulfonicacid -> salt
racemic alcohol + (-)camphorsulfonylchloride -> pyridine -> ester
The resulting enantiomers of the salts or molecules have different chemical properties and can often be separated with good optical purity.

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