Diastereoselectivity refers to the preferential formation of one or more diastereomers over others during a chemical reaction. In the context of catalysis, this concept is crucial because the properties of diastereomers, including their physical, chemical, and biological behaviors, can differ significantly. Achieving high diastereoselectivity can be particularly important in the synthesis of complex molecules, such as pharmaceuticals, where the desired diastereomer often exhibits the required biological activity.
