Final answer:
Stereospecific reactions are intrinsically stereoselective because they form specific stereoisomers of products while excluding others. Enzyme .
Step-by-step explanation:
Stereospecific reactions are those where one stereoisomer reacts to form a particular product, while other possible stereoisomers of the reactant do not participate effectively, or they lead to different products.
These reactions are inherently stereoselective because they selectively produce one stereoisomer over others. This selectivity is often seen in biological systems where enzymes, which are stereospecific catalysts, facilitate reactions.
One example of a stereospecific reaction is the enzyme-catalyzed hydration of fumarate by fumarase to yield (S)-malate, without the production of the (R)-malate isomer.
In this way, enzymes demonstrate a high degree of stereoselectivity as they catalyze the conversion of specific substrates into specific products.
Stereospecific reactions in nature, such as those catalyzed by enzymes, are vital for maintaining the proper function of biological systems.
They ensure that only the correct stereoisomer is produced, which is often crucial for the activity and function of biomolecules, such as in drug synthesis where only one enantiomer is therapeutic.