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Photonics Dictionary

enantiomer

Enantiomers are a pair of molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, similar to left and right hands. They are stereoisomers, meaning they have the same molecular formula and connectivity of atoms, but differ in their spatial arrangement of atoms. Despite their identical chemical composition, enantiomers exhibit distinct properties when interacting with other chiral molecules, such as enzymes or receptors, due to their unique three-dimensional structures.

Enantiomers are optically active, meaning they rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions. One enantiomer rotates light clockwise, a property referred to as dextrorotation (designated as (+)), while the other rotates light counterclockwise, called levorotation (designated as (-)). These designations are based on the Latin words "dexter" (right) and "laevus" (left), reflecting the direction of rotation.

Enantiomers often have different biological activities, pharmacological effects, or tastes due to their interactions with chiral biological systems. This phenomenon, known as enantiomeric or chiral discrimination, has important implications in drug development, as only one enantiomer of a drug may exhibit the desired therapeutic effect while the other may be inactive or even produce adverse effects. Consequently, the separation and analysis of enantiomers are crucial in pharmaceutical and chemical industries, often achieved through techniques such as chiral chromatography or asymmetric synthesis.

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