Term: prochirality
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04859

Definition:
The geometric property of an achiral object (or spatial arrangement of points or atoms) which is capable of becoming chiral in a single desymmetrization step. An achiral molecular entity, or a part of it considered on its own, is thus called prochiral if it can be made chiral by the replacement of an existing atom (or achiral group) by a different one. An achiral object which is capable of becoming chiral in two desymmetrization steps is sometimes described as proprochiral. For example the proprochiral CH3CO2H becomes prochiral as CH2DCO2H and chiral as CHDTCO2H.

Related Terms:
1) achiral (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00069).
2) chiral (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01057).
3) desymmetrization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01623).

Source: 

Citation: 'prochirality' 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.P04859

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