Catalysts can affect drug synthesis in several ways:
Enantioselectivity: Catalysts can help produce specific enantiomers of chiral drugs, which is critical since different enantiomers can have different biological activities. Reaction Conditions: Catalysts often allow reactions to occur under milder conditions (lower temperatures and pressures), which can be beneficial for sensitive drug molecules. Efficiency: Catalysts can increase the reaction rate, allowing for faster production times and higher throughput in drug manufacturing.
