Amino acids with two
chiral centres were named in the past by allotting a name to the first diastereoisomer to
be discovered. The second diastereoisomer, when found or synthesized, was then assigned
the same name but with the prefix allo-. This method can be used only with trivial
names but not with semisystematic or systematic names. It is now recommended that
allo should be used only for alloisoleucine and allothreonine.
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