Final answer:
The term "2-phenylethanol competing enantioselective conversion" in chemistry refers to a selective reaction process where one enantiomer of 2-phenylethanol is favoured over the other. This process is significant in the synthesis of chiral compounds with applications in pharmaceuticals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "2-phenylethanol competing enantioselective conversion" refers to a chemical process where 2-phenylethanol undergoes a reaction that can lead to products with different spatial arrangements (enantiomers), and these reactions are competing in a way that favours one enantiomer over the other. This can involve different reaction pathways or catalysts that influence the selectivity towards a particular enantiomeric form. In a broader sense, competing enantioselective conversions often deal with chemical reactions such as oxidation, reduction, or acylation where catalysts or reaction conditions are optimized to achieve a desired enantiomer with higher selectivity.
Enantioselective synthesis is a key concept in organic chemistry and pharmaceutical manufacturing, where the creation of one enantiomer over the other is crucial due to the difference in biological activity of the enantiomers. Terms like E2 mechanism and the presence of anionic nucleophiles often come into play when discussing such reactions.