Organic stereochemistry. Part 1. Symmetry elements and operations, classification of stereoisomers

This review initiates a general presentation of the principles of stereochemistry with special reference to medicinal compounds. The general focus of this and the following Parts is twofold, namely a) broad statements of stereochemical principles, and b) illustration of these with special reference to the biochemistry and pharmacology of medicinal compounds. As for the graphical format of this work, its readers will find it essentially identical with that of a previous series of seven reviews on the Metabolism of Drugs and Other Xenobiotics published between October 2006 and October 2009 by B. T. and Stefanie Krämer in Chemistry and Biodiversity [1], and also published in book form in 2008 (Vol. 1) and 2010 (Vol. 2) [2]. The present Part 1 introduces this new series by presenting and illustrating basic concepts on which the edifice of stereochemistry is built. At the most basic level of such foundations, we find symmetry as presented here in terms of its elements, operations, and point groups. This is followed by a classification of isomeric molecular structures, as well as a classification of steric relationships between molecular fragments.