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Enantiomers are chiral molecules that are mirror images of one another and are not superimposable. Diastereomers are the stereoisomer compounds with molecules that are not mirrored images of one another and are not superimposable. They are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. This means that they are mirror images of each other, but you can’t stack them on top of each other and have them line up exactly the same.
Enantiomers and diastereomers are types of stereoisomers. Here, we’ll learn what the difference is between these types of stereoisomers and how to differentiate between them.
Types of Isomers
There are two types of Isomers: stereoisomers, and structural isomers. Structural isomers have the same molecular formula but are different in their bond connection and order. On the other hand, Stereoisomers differ in the spatial arrangement of their structures.
Again the stereoisomers are divided into Enantiomers and Diastereomers. Enantiomers and diastereomers are that the former is found as mirror images while the latter isn’t; that is the main difference.
What are Enantiomers and Diastereomers?
Enantiomers
Enantiomers are chiral molecules that are mirror images of one another and are not superimposable. A chiral molecule has an image that is not the same as its mirror image and it is typically characterized by a carbon center with 4 different atoms bonded to it. These atoms must be chemically distinguishable for a molecule to be qualified as a chiral and thus an Enantiomer. The tetrahedral carbon to which the different atoms are attached is called the stereocenter. See the difference below; the two molecules have the same formula and the structuring of the atoms, so to identify them, we have to label one the S and the other R, depending on the clockwise configuration of the atoms from the lowest atomic mass to highest atomic mass.
Diastereomers
Diastereomers are the stereoisomer compounds with molecules that do not mirror images of one another and that are not superimposable. The perfect example of diastereomers is when you look at the cis and trans isomer structures.
See the cis-2-butene and the trans-2-butene structures below:
See, the compounds are identical, but the arrangements are different, and they do not mirror images of each other. When the CH3 are on the same side, the compound is cis, and when the other is swapped with the Hydrogen atom, we name the compound trans. There are plenty of these molecules, as long as they demonstrate the spatial arrangements of atoms that are not mirrored images of each other and that are not superimposable.
A clear explanation of enantiomers vs diastereomers is tabulated below.
Enantiomers vs Diastereomers
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Enantiomers |
Diastereomers |
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Enantiomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. Enantiomers are mirror images of each other which are known as stereoisomers. |
Diastereomers are also non-superimposable but are not mirror images of each other. Diastereomers are not mirrored images of each other which are known as stereoisomers. |
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All enantiomers have the same physical and chemical properties except interaction with eight and interaction with other chiral compounds. |
All diastereomers have different physical and chemical properties. |
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Enantiomers have one or more stereocenters. |
Diastereomers have either two or more than two stereocenters. |
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All Enantiomers pass optical activity. They have equal but opposite angles of rotation. |
Not all Diastereomers pass the optical activity. They do not have an equal angle of rotation. |
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In the Enantiomers, the Shapes of molecules are similar. |
Diastereomers have different molecular shapes. |
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Enantiomers are present in pairs. |
There can be several molecules in Diastereomers. |
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They always have a different R, S-configuration. |
They have the same R, S-configuration at least at one stereocenter. |
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They can not be separated by crystallization, chromatography, etc. |
They can be separated by fractional distillation, chromatography, etc. |
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Example: Lactic acid |
Example: Tartaric acid |
Enantiomers differ in the configuration of every stereocenter. Molecules that are not defined as mirror images due to the spatial arrangements of atoms are diastereomers. The main difference between enantiomers and diastereomers is that the former is a mirror image, but the latter is not a mirror image.
Examples
Saccharide (or sugar) is a biological example in chemistry, and below are the Enantiomers and Diastereomers of throes. DHT is an example of these-
Fun Facts
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Enantiomers are molecules that are mirror images but non-superimposable. If they are not superimposable, and they have not mirrored images of one another, then they’re diastereomers. Because their atoms are different from the fact that stereoisomers are isomers.
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If two stereoisomers are mirror images of each other, then it is called enantiomers.
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Diastereomers are not enantiomers; these are stereoisomers. If every stereocenter is the opposite orientation, then it’s an enantiomer; if not, then it’s a diastereomer.
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The mirror image stereoisomers are one of the interesting types of isomers and a set of two molecules that are non-superimposable.