What is a characteristic of diastereomers?

Diastereomers are a type of stereoisomer that are not related as mirror images, which distinguishes them from enantiomers. One of the key characteristics of diastereomers is that they exhibit different physical and chemical properties. This is because diastereomers have different spatial arrangements of atoms, leading to variations in boiling points, melting points, solubility, and reactivity.

For example, consider the case of sugars. Two diastereomers might differ in configuration at one of several stereocenters and could have different tastes or solubility patterns in water, illustrating their different chemical properties. Additionally, their different structures can lead to varying interactions with other molecules, enhancing their unique physical properties.

This fundamental characteristic underscores the diversity found within compounds that have the same molecular formula yet are structured differently, resulting in distinct behavior in chemical reactions and physical interactions.