Definition of the term asymmetric synthesis—History and revision

Abstract

The widely used term asymmetric synthesis was introduced by Emil Fischer in 1894 by demonstration with examples. An early definition by Marckwald was successful in applications involving enantiomeric reaction products. The term caused difficulties in cases of diastereomeric products, because of a lack of a clear definition of the term diastereoisomers, which in turn affected the introduction of the term diastereoselectivity. Clarity was reached only after Wheland had revived a definition by Victor Meyer of 1907. Today, a definition codified by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is in use, which is slightly modified here.