49. How Can Separation Of Chiral Chemicals Affect The Chemical And/or Pharmaceutical Industries?
This enantiomers (left [S] or right [R] oriented) versions of the same compound can have very different properties; this development has been significant particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. For example, the drug Seldane is a racemic mixture of both S and R versions of the drug's molecules. Through chiral separation technology, Hoechst was able to bring the drug Allegra to market in only 3 years (far less time than is usually necessary).
