Term: optical isomers [obsolete] https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.O04308 Definition: Obsolescent synonym for stereoisomers with different optical properties. They should be described as diastereoisomers or enantiomers. (Usage strongly discouraged). Related Terms: 1) stereoisomers (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05984). 2) diastereoisomers (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01679). Source: PAC, 1996, 68, 2193. 'Basic terminology of stereochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2212 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122193) Citation: 'optical isomers <span class='text-danger'>[obsolete]</span>' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.O04308 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.