Linezolid Is an Antibiotic Used Against Gram-Positive Bacteria, Including Methicillin-Resistant

Essay

Linezolid is an antibiotic used against gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is sold by Pfizer under the trade name Zyvox® as a single enantiomer.
a. Mark the asymmetric center with an asterisk (*) in the structure of (−)-linezolid. The Cahn-Ingold-Prelog configuration of the asymmetric center in (−)-linezolid is ___________.
b. Assuming that linezolid is synthesized as a racemic mixture, name a method that chemists at Pfizer might be able to utilize to isolate the two enantiomers from racemic linezolid.