Inactive enantisomers can cause problems from birth defects to heart conditions.
The production of a single isomer causes some advantages:
-Risks from undesirable side effects are reduced.
-Drug doses are reduced as the other isomer isn't there now.
Modern chiral synthesis:
-Using enzymes as biological catalysts for one isomer only.
-Chiral pool synthesis, using the naturally occuring isomer.
-Use of transition element complexes.
Furthermore Ibuprofen has an optical isomer, but so far doesn't cause adverse affect, and also doesn't limit dosage as the less efficient isomer is converted anyway.
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