Editing Enantioselective synthesis (section)

===Chiral pool synthesis===
{{Main|Chiral pool synthesis}}
Chiral pool synthesis is one of the simplest and oldest approaches for enantioselective synthesis. A readily available chiral starting material is manipulated through successive reactions, often using achiral reagents, to obtain the desired target molecule. This can meet the criteria for enantioselective synthesis when a new chiral species is created, such as in an [[SN2 reaction|S<sub>N</sub>2 reaction]].

[[File:SN2 reaction mechanism.png|center|450px]]

Chiral pool synthesis is especially attractive for target molecules having similar chirality to a relatively inexpensive naturally occurring building-block such as a sugar or [[amino acid]]. However, the number of possible reactions the molecule can undergo is restricted and tortuous synthetic routes may be required (e.g. [[Oseltamivir total synthesis]]). This approach also requires a [[stoichiometric]] amount of the [[enantiopure]] starting material, which can be expensive if it is not naturally occurring.