[cinderblock]

What is the Walden inversion used for? Making medicine?

And what kind of equipment would you need to do it? Some kind of reactor?

[discodermolide]

Do you know what the Walden inversion is?

[cinderblock]

I've only read about it. And from what I've read, it has to do with switching the enantiomer around the chiral center of a molecule. Sounds interesting in theory, but I wanted to know what its practical uses are.

[discodermolide]

I've only read about it. And from what I've read, it has to do with switching the enantiomer around the chiral center of a molecule. Sounds interesting in theory, but I wanted to know what its practical uses are.

Yes it it used for that purpose. But it's use depends upon the molecule you are trying to make. Do you have anything particular in mind for the application? Any particular molecule?

[Babcock_Hall]

Enzymologists trying to decide whether or not nucleophilic catalysis occurs sometimes make use of the principle behind a Walden inversion.