stereospecific

[ ster-ee-oh-spuh-sif-ik, steer- ]

adjective

, Chemistry.

1. (of a reaction) producing a simple stereoisomer.
2. (of a polymer) having a regular sequence of configurations in space along the chain, resulting in the potential for close-packing of molecules and for partial or complete crystallinity.

stereospecific

/ ˌstɛrɪəʊspɪˈsɪfɪk; ˌstɪər- /

adjective

1. chem relating to or having a fixed position in space, as in the spatial arrangements of atoms in certain polymers

Other Words From

• ster·e·o·spec·i·fic·i·ty [ster-ee-oh-spes-, uh, -, fis, -i-tee, steer-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stereospecific¹

stereo- + specific

Example Sentences

Leonori, D. & Aggarwal, V. K. Stereospecific couplings of secondary and tertiary boronic esters.

From Nature

Polymers and Manufacturing “Seven years have now passed since our laboratory in the Politecnico di Milano discovered ‘stereospecific’ catalytic processes for creating ‘stereoregular’ polymers from simple asymmetric hydrocarbon molecules such as those of propylene.

From Scientific American

Only last year our laboratory was successful in carrying stereospecific polymerization methods another step forward, suggesting that still-new varieties of stereoregular polymers may achieve practical importance before too many years have passed.

From Scientific American