Fundamental Stereochemical Concepts and Nomenclatures

In this chapter some essential stereochemical concepts associated with organic molecules (natural or synthetic), as reflected in course of their many reactions, their asymmetric synthesis, biosynthesis, and biological activities, have been discussed. This treatment is expected to be quite handy, advantageous, and helpful to the readers to understand the chiral/achiral designations (nomenclatures), the stereochemical features, and related properties of the natural products dealt in the chapters that follow. Without having adequate stereochemical concepts, it may not be possible to understand and appreciate properly the stereochemistry of the natural or synthetic products. Thus, some essential static and dynamic aspects of stereochemistry will be dealt with sufficient illustrative examples in figures along with discussions in the text to reasonable extents. Further, this treatment will give an idea of some basic stereochemical concepts as applied to organic molecules in general.