Chirality and the actions of anti-inflammatory drugs
Date
1996
Authors
Evans, A.M.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
The Veterinary Journal, 1996; 152(2):135-138
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
The mirror images of a symmetrical object are identical to one another. Such is not the case, however, for an asymmetric object, that is one which cannot be divided into two identical halves. Thus, the right hand is a mirror-image of the left hand and both are structurally alike, but neither can be superimposed upon the other. To a left-handed person, with no alternative but to use asymmetric utensils designed by right-handed people, the complexities of this "handedness" can be a source of considerable frustration. Invariably, however, right-handed people fail to see what all the fuss is about. Handedness, or chirality, also exists in the structure of organic molecules, the most common source being a tetrahedral carbon atom covalently linked to four chemically different substituents. For a molecule containing one chiral carbon atom, two non-superimposable mirror-image forms, or enantiomers, are possible. For a chemical containing n chiral centres, there are 2" optical isomers.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 1996 Bailliere Tindall