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Chemistry LibreTexts

Stereospecific

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If, in a reaction, stereoisomeric (see stereoisomers) reactants gives stereoisomeric products, the reaction is said to be stereospecific.

eg. 1:

stereospecific1.png

Reactions 1 and 2 are SN2 reactions of stereoisomeric substrates 1 and 2 with the same nucleophile, leading to stereoisomeric substitution products 3 and 4, respectively. Thus, SN2 reactions are stereospecific.

eg. 2:

stereospecific2.png

Reactions 3 and 4 are Diels-Alder reactions of stereoisomeric dienophiles 5 and 6 with the same diene, 1,3-butadiene. The products of the reaction of 5 is 7; the products of the reaction of 6 are 8 and 9. 7 and 8 are stereoisomers, so are 7 and 9. Thus, Diels-Alder reactions are stereospecific.

see stereoselective


This page titled Stereospecific is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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