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CAIE A-Level Chemistry A2 29.4.4 Relevance of Chirality to the Synthetic Questions

Practise explaining why drug enantiomers can act differently and how synthesis can deliver one pure optical isomer.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Chemistry 9701
Level
A2

Exam points

  • explain that enantiomers can interact differently with chiral biological targets and show different activity
  • compare separating a racemic mixture with using a chiral catalyst to form mainly one enantiomer
  • justify a single-isomer drug through efficacy, dose or safety without assuming the other is always harmful

CAIE A-Level Chemistry A2 29.4.4 Relevance of Chirality to the Synthetic Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

The amino acid serine, HOCH2CH(NH2)COOH\mathrm{HOCH}_{2} \mathrm{CH}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{2}\right) \mathrm{COOH}, exists in two optically active forms. These optical isomers, isomer P and isomer Q, are shown in Fig. 8.1.

Fig. 8.1

Fig. 8.1

Describe one way in which a single pure optical isomer of serine can be produced, instead of making a mixture of isomer P and isomer Q.

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