racemization

Racemization is a chemical process where an optically active compound transforms into a racemic mixture. A racemic mixture contains equal amounts of two enantiomers, which are molecules that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed. Because each enantiomer rotates plane-polarized light in opposite directions, a racemic mixture is optically inactive.1

This process is significant in chemistry, particularly in the synthesis of drugs. For instance, thalidomide, a sedative, was marketed as a racemic mixture. While one enantiomer was benign, the other caused severe birth defects. This tragedy highlighted the importance of producing enantiomerically pure drugs, as the body can sometimes racemize compounds, leading to unintended consequences. The ease of racemization varies greatly between different compounds.21