The chiral carbon in dexibuprofen is assigned an absolute configuration of (S) per the Cahn–Ingold–Prelog rules.

[4] Ibuprofen is an α-arylpropionic acid used largely in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and widely used over-the counter drug for headache and minor pains.

The inactive (R)-enantiomer, the distomer, undergoes a unidirectional chiral inversion to give the active (S)-enantiomer, the former acting as a prodrug for the latter.

[5][6][7][8][9] That is, when the ibuprofen is administered as a racemate the distomer is converted in vivo into the eutomer while the latter is unaffected.

This drug article relating to the musculoskeletal system is a stub.