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Improved Methodology for the Preparation of Chiral Amines

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1. Cis-trans or geometric isomers.<br />

2. Optical isomers<br />

Optical isomers have <strong>the</strong> ability to rotate plane-polarized light. [8] Enantiomers are part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

optical isomers, toge<strong>the</strong>r with diastereomers. Enantiomers are mirror image optical isomers<br />

having only one chiral centre. Enantiomers posses <strong>the</strong> same physical properties but <strong>the</strong>y<br />

differ in <strong>the</strong>ir biochemical properties. They behave differently only in a chiral medium, such<br />

as when exposed to a polarized light or when participating in a chemical reaction catalyzed<br />

by a chiral catalyst, particularly an enzyme in <strong>the</strong> body. (+)-Glucose (“blood sugar”) is used<br />

<strong>for</strong> metabolic energy whereas (-)-glucose is not. (+)-Lactic acid is produced by reactions<br />

occurring in muscle tissue, and (-)-lactic acid is produced by <strong>the</strong> lactic acid bacteria in <strong>the</strong><br />

souring <strong>of</strong> milk. Diastereomers are non mirror image optical isomers having more than chiral<br />

centre. Diastereomers have different physical properties allowing <strong>the</strong>ir separation.<br />

Enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity are terms used to express <strong>the</strong> preferential<br />

<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>of</strong> one enantiomer or diastereomer over <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r and it is normally expressed as an<br />

enantiomeric excess (ee) or diastereomeric excess (de).<br />

ee (%) =<br />

R(%) - S(%)<br />

R(%) + S(%)<br />

+<br />

100<br />

de (%) =<br />

D 1 (%) - D 2 (%)<br />

D 1 (%) + D 2 (%)<br />

+<br />

100<br />

1.3. Nature is <strong>Chiral</strong><br />

Many naturally occurring substances possess chirality, which is <strong>the</strong> property that a substance<br />

and its mirror image are not superimposable. [10] In every-day life, many examples can be<br />

found as well. Human hands are perhaps <strong>the</strong> most universally-recognized example <strong>of</strong><br />

chirality. The left hand is a non-superimposable mirror image <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> right hand; no matter<br />

how <strong>the</strong> two hands are oriented, it is impossible <strong>for</strong> all <strong>the</strong> major features <strong>of</strong> both hands to<br />

coincide. [11]<br />

In particular life depends on molecular chirality, with many biological functions/processes<br />

inherently based on <strong>the</strong> interaction <strong>of</strong> dissymmetric molecules. Many physiological<br />

phenomena arise from highly preferential molecular interactions in which a chiral host<br />

3

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