[mbikel]

Hello, all.

We're 3 PhDs in an office and we are trying to solve the different question:

What are the differences between the R/S and D/L systems for naming isomers. We understand that R/S is absolute, whereas D/L is derived from comparison with glyceraldehyde. But what are the real differences regarding use, advantages, etc?

Thanks a lot.

[StarvinMarvin]

In my opinion, use of R/S is much simpler because only by learning three basic rules you can actually draw any molecule. D/L is more traditional and as it is relative stereochemistry, it has only a little to do with actual chemical structure. Yet, in some cases (sugars amino acids) D/L nomenclature is still in force as in that cases it's much quicker to understand what someone is referring to by writing, for instance, D-glucose.

So actually, D/L is more advantageous only in limited cases and only due to some tradition linked to it.