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Question 1

Racemic mixture

Answer 1

• 2 forms of mirror images: enantiomers and stereoisomers
• All amino acids are “left-handed”
• All sugars in DNA and RNA are “right-handed”

Question 2

Problems of API enantiomers

Answer 2

• production process generates equal amount of enantiomers
• only half of the yield is effective for drug application
• Ineffective isomers may create undesirable side effects when interacting with biological receptors that are chiral

Question 3

Benefits of manufacturing chiral drugs

Answer 3

• improve potency
• improve yield
• extend patent life for approved drugs based on racemic mixtures

Question 4

Stereoselective synthetic methods to produce chiral drugs

Answer 4

• enzyme and non-enzyme catalysts
• chiral building blocks
• chiral auxiliary