are molecules with the same chemical formula but different 3D arrangements of atoms. They come in two main types: (mirror images) and (non-mirror images). Understanding these is key to grasping molecular structure and reactivity.
Knowing how to calculate and represent stereoisomers is crucial. The number of possible stereoisomers depends on , while Fischer and Newman projections help visualize their 3D structures. This knowledge is essential for predicting molecular behavior and understanding biological processes.
Stereoisomers
Enantiomers vs diastereomers
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Top images from around the web for Enantiomers vs diastereomers
Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Organic chemistry 10: Stereochemistry - chirality, enantiomers and diastereomers View original
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Enantiomers
Non-superimposable mirror images of each other (like left and right hands)
Opposite configurations at all chirality centers (R and S)
Identical physical properties except for the direction of rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise)
Exhibit due to their chiral nature
Diastereomers
Not mirror images of each other (like cis and )
Different configurations at one or more but not all chirality centers
Different physical properties such as melting points, boiling points, and solubilities (can be separated by physical means)
Stereoisomer quantity calculation
Number of possible stereoisomers for a molecule determined by the formula: 2n, where n is the number of chirality centers (also called stereocenters)
Molecule with 2 chirality centers will have 22=4 possible stereoisomers (2 enantiomeric pairs)
Molecule with 3 chirality centers will have 23=8 possible stereoisomers (4 enantiomeric pairs)
Stereoisomers consist of:
Enantiomeric pairs: 22n=2n−1 (1 pair for 2 chirality centers, 2 pairs for 3 chirality centers)
Diastereomeric pairs: 22n−2n−1=2n−1−1 (1 pair for 2 chirality centers, 3 pairs for 3 chirality centers)
Molecule has multiple chirality centers but is due to an internal plane of symmetry (can be superimposed on its mirror image)
Meso compounds reduce the total number of stereoisomers by 1 ( has 3 stereoisomers instead of 4)
Epimers and stereoisomer relationships
Subset of diastereomers that differ in configuration at only one chirality center (like and )
Closest stereoisomeric relationship among diastereomers (most similar in structure)
Relationship to other stereoisomers
Enantiomers differ at all chirality centers, while epimers differ at only one (enantiomers are farther apart structurally)
Diastereomers that are not epimers differ at more than one but not all chirality centers (in between enantiomers and epimers)
Importance of epimers
Similar physical properties due to their close structural relationship (harder to separate than other diastereomers)
Different biochemical activities or functions in biological systems (glucose and galactose metabolism)
Stereoisomer representations
Fischer projections
2D representation of 3D molecular structures, particularly useful for depicting stereoisomers
Horizontal lines represent bonds coming out of the page, vertical lines represent bonds going into the page
Newman projections
Used to visualize different conformations of molecules, especially along carbon-carbon single bonds