The Resolution of Racemic Mixtures

Abstract

In nature, due to selective synthesis or destruction by living organisms, optically active compounds are fairly numerous. However, there also exists a large number of racemic mixtures or optically active compounds. The components of these mixtures usually have the same physical and chemical properties making them difficult to separate by ordinary means. Thus, indirect methods must be used to effect the resolution of these inactive substences into their optically active components. [From Introduction]