Answer:
A stereoselective reaction is one that leads to the preferential formation of a stereoisomer.
Explanation:
The existence of molecules that have the same molecular formula and different properties is known as isomerism. In other words, isomers are the compounds that, having the same molecular formula, possess structural or spatial configuration differences, as well as often present differences in physical and chemical properties.
Stereoisomerism is the isomerism that those compounds that have the same structural formula differ in the spatial arrangement of their atoms.
Then, a stereoselective reaction is one that leads to the preferential formation of a stereoisomer.
The enantiomers are non-superimposable mirror images, that is, each is a mirror image not superimposable with the other, the same as one hand with respect to the other. In other words, they are stereoisomers whose molecules are mirror images of each other, but these cannot be superimposed on each other so they do not coincide in all their parts.
Diastereomerics are configurational isomers that are not mirror images of each other. In other words, they are a class of stereoisomers such that they are not superimposable but neither are they mirror images of each other, that is, they are not enantiomers.
Then, stereoselective reactions can be of two types: enantioselective, in which the selection is between enantiomeric and diastereoselective products, in which the selection is between diastereomeric products.
