Stereochemistry chemical differences between enantiomers

The (R/S) convention looks a bit complicated. It is easier than it appears right now, but it just must be learned, and cannot be reasoned out. It s quite arbitrary at a number of points. For the price of learning this convention we get the return of being able to specify great detail most economically. Time and again we will use the subtle differences between enantiomers to test ideas about reaction mechanisms—of how chemical reactions occur. The study of the effects of stereochemistry on reaction mechanisms has been, and remains, one of the most powerful tools used by chemists to unravel how Nature works. Practice using the (R/S) convention and it will become easy. It s well worth it—indeed, it s essential. 

Stereochemistry (Chapter 7) Chemistry in three dimensions the relationship of physical and chemical properties to the spatial arrangement of the atoms in a molecule Stereoelectron ic effect (Section 5 16) An electronic effect that depends on the spatial arrangement between the or bitals of the electron donor and acceptor Stereoisomers (Section 3 11) Isomers with the same constitu tion but that differ in respect to the arrangement of their atoms in space Stereoisomers may be either enantiomers or diastereomers... 

The different enantiomers of optically active compounds have identical chemical and physicochemical properties, except their different influence on the rotation of polarized light. However, a binding site is a chiral environment that discriminates between the different enantiomers as if they were completely different molecules optical enantiomers also differ in their metabolism. Thus, stereochemistry plays an important role in the biological activity of drugs. 

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