Enantiomers are pairs of molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. They are identical in terms of their chemical and physical properties, except for their interaction with plane-polarized light and their behavior in chiral environments. These molecules possess a special property called chirality, wherein their structures cannot be aligned when superimposed on each other in the same way that one’s left and right hand cannot be perfectly overlaid. One enantiomer is referred to as the “left-handed” or “L” form, while its mirror image is the “right-handed” or “D” form. Enantiomers often arise in organic chemistry, particularly in compounds containing asymmetric carbon atoms (carbon atoms bonded to four different substituents). They can have vastly different biological effects, with one enantiomer exhibiting a therapeutic effect while its mirror image could be inert or possess different physiological activity.
