Unravelling Chirality: A Key to Advancing Forensic Toxicology

ABSTRACT Stereochemistry has played an important role in the production and development of both pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse. Since the unique characteristics of isomers can significantly affect their chemical and biological properties, in recent years a considerable interest has been placed on chiral separation in order to isolate and analyze both enantiomers of chiral compounds (with a single element of chirality). In many cases, a difference in the three‐dimensional structure of a molecule can result in dramatically different effects, ranging from therapeutic efficacy to toxicity. As a result, the ability to separate, isolate, and analyze individual enantiomers has become an area of significant interest, driving advancements in chiral separation techniques over recent years. This interest has extended to fields such as pharmaceutical chemistry, forensic toxicology, and the food industry. This review aims to highlight the importance of chirality in toxicological risk assessment and the interpretation of forensic evidence, emphasizing the essential role of stereochemistry in understanding the behavior of chiral substances.