AAMC FL Practice Exam

What is the effect of the catalyst on the stereospecificity of a reaction?

1. Catalyst has no effect on stereospecificity

2. Catalyst can only promote achiral reactions

3. A chiral catalyst can lead to chiral products

4. Stereospecificity is determined solely by reactants

The correct answer is: A chiral catalyst can lead to chiral products

In chemical reactions, a catalyst primarily serves to lower the activation energy, facilitating the reaction without being consumed in the process. When it comes to stereospecificity, which refers to the specific orientation of reactants leading to a particular stereoisomer as a product, the presence of a chiral catalyst plays a significant role. A chiral catalyst can interact with the reactants in such a way that it promotes the formation of one specific enantiomer over another. This chiral environment alters the transition state of the reaction, favoring pathways that lead to the production of a particular stereoisomer. As a result, this can enhance the stereospecificity of the reaction. In contrast, a non-chiral catalyst would not provide this selective interaction, thereby not influencing the stereoisomeric outcome. Thus, the correct answer indicates that the use of a chiral catalyst can indeed lead to chiral products, underscoring its significant impact on the stereochemical characteristics of the reaction.