STEREOCHEMISTRY

A STUDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

1.

Determine the relationship between two given structures (which may be any of the kinds
below). Also, define each of the following terms, and give examples of pairs of
molecules having the given relationship.
Constitutional Isomers (different connectivity of atoms; may include chain,
position, and functional group isomers)
Same compound (superimposable or superposable)
Stereoisomers (different orientation in space, same connectivity of atoms)
Enantiomers (nonsuperimposable mirror images of each other)
Diastereomers (stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other)

2.

Define the following, and tell whether or not a given compound or structure fits the
description or possesses the feature.
Chiral (not superposable on its mirror image),
Achiral (superposable on its mirror image/has an internal plane of symmetry)
Tetrahedral stereocenter (chiral center)
Plane of symmetry
Optically active (rotates a plane of polarized light)
Meso compound (contains two or more stereocenters, but is achiral)

3.

Given the structure, write the name, and given the name, draw the structure, of
compounds using the (R),(S) system (in addition to the IUPAC system you already
know).

4.

Define racemate (racemic mixture--equal and optically inactive mixture of a pair of

enantiomers). Define the following, and calculate them given the appropriate
information:
Specific rotation
Optical (enantiomeric) purity (enantiomeric excess)
Percent composition of optically impure samples

To best prepare for this module, please work Chapter 5 Skill Builder problems in the textbook.
Please use your model kit to prepare for this module.
A STUDENT WHO HAS MASTERED THE OBJECTIVES ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS AND RELATED ONES:
1.1

State how the two structures in each of the following pairs are related to each other. They
may be constitutional (structural) isomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, or the same
compound.

a)

NH2

NH2

H3 C
H

Cl

c)

Br

CH2 CH3

CH3
CH3

HS
e)

H
H3 C

b)
CH2 CH3

CH2 CH3

d)

CH3 CH2
HS

SH

HO
H

Br

OH

Br

Br

C
H

CH3

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

H
f)

SH
CH2 CH3

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

h)

CH2 CH2 CH3

C

g)

i)

CH3

CH3

H3 C
H
H3 C
C
C
Cl
H
Br

H
CH3 CH2

CH3

CH2 CH3

H
Cl

OH

Br

k)
OH
H

OH

H
CH3

H
Cl

j)

Br

CH2 CH3

Br
Cl

CH2 CH2 CH3

CH3

Cl
OH

l) HO

OH H

HO

H
OH

1.2

Identify each of the compounds in question 1.1 above as either chiral or achiral.

1.3

Answer the following questions for each of the following sets of four structures.
1) Which of the other three members of each set is not a stereoisomer of the first
member of the set?
2) Which two members of each set are enantiomers of one another?
3) What relationship do the two members that are not enantiomers of one another
have with the two that are enantiomers of one another? (See 1.1 for possible
relationships.)

a)
HO

CH3

CH3
C

CH3

CH3

H
OH

C
H
HO

OH HO

CH3

H
II

CH3

CH3

H
OH

C
H
HO

C
III

CH3
C
IV

Br
Br

b)

H
C

Br

CH3
CH3

H3 C
Br

H3 C C
H3 C

CH3

II

CH3

CH3
c) H
H

NH2
NH2

H2 N
H

H
NH2
CH3
II

CH3
I
2.1

Br

H
H

OH

Br
H

H
C

Br

Br

H C

CH3

CH3

III

IV

CH3
NH2
CH3

CH3
H2 N
H2 N

H
H

NH2
III

CH3
IV

Answer the following questions for each of the molecules shown below.
1) How many tetrahedral stereocenters does the molecule contain?
2) Does the molecule possess any internal planes of symmetry?
3) Is the molecule chiral?
4) Is the molecule superposable on its own mirror image?
5) Is the molecule optically active?
6) Is this a meso compound?
H

H3 C
a)

H
HO

b)
OH

OH
CH 3

H3 C

CH 3

H
HO

C
CH3

HO
c)
H

OH

HO

OH

d)
H

2.2
How many tetrahedral stereocenters does the following structure contain? Ignoring the
possibility of meso compounds, how many stereoisomers having this structure are theoretically
possible?
CH2 OH
H3 C C=O
OH

H3 C
O

2.3

Which of the following compounds has a meso stereoisomer?

OH
|
A. CH3 CH2 CHCHCH 3
|
OH

3.1

Cl
|
C
C. CH3 CHCH 2 CHCH 3
|
Cl
Cl

Cl
B.

C
H

Cl
D.

Cl
C

Give the IUPAC name, including the R or S designations when appropriate, of each of the
following compounds.

a)
HO
H

CH3
C

b)
CH2 Cl

Br
H

CH2 CH3
H

Cl
c) H3 C
H

CH2 CH3
H

Cl

d)

H3 C

CH3
OH
OH
H

3.2

Draw the structure of each of the compounds named below. Make sure that your drawing
shows a three-dimensional structure in the correct configuration.
a) (R)-2-chloropentane
b) (2R,3S)-3-methyl-2-hexanol

4.1

Sample A is a mixture of two enantiomers. A solution of A is made by dissolving 5.00 g

of the sample in enough ethanol to bring the volume of solution to 25.0 mL. Some of the
solution is placed in a 10 cm polarimeter cell and its optical rotation is measured at 25C
using light of the sodium D line wavelength (589.6 nm). The observed rotation is - 8.3.
What is the specific rotation of this sample?

4.2

An enantiomerically pure sample of the S enantiomer of A from problem 4.1 has a

specific rotation of + 72.3. What is the % enantiomeric excess of sample A?

4.3

What percentage of sample A (problem 4.2 above) is the S enantiomer? What percentage
of the sample is the R enantiomer?

5.1

You have a sample (Sample X) which is a mixture of +/- Carvone. The solution was
made by dissolving 4.50 g of the sample in enough methanol to bring the volume of
solution to 10.0 mL. Some of the solution is placed in a 100 cm polarimeter cell and its
optical rotation is measured at 25C using light of the sodium D line wavelength (589.6
nm). The observed rotation is +22.2. What is the specific rotation of this sample?

5.2

An enantiomerically pure sample of the S enantiomer of Carvone has a specific rotation

of + 15.5. What is the % enantiomeric excess of Sample X from problem 5.1?

5.3

What percentage of Sample X (problem 5.2 above) is the S enantiomer? What

percentage of the sample is the R enantiomer?

SOLUTIONS TO SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1.1

1.2

a)
c)
e)
g)
i)
k)

enantiomers
enantiomers
diastereomers
constitutional isomers
same compound
diastereomers

b)
d)
f)
h)
j)
l)

diastereomers
same compound
enantiomers
diastereomers
enantiomers (hint: chairs can flip)
same

a) both are chiral b) both chiral, c) both chiral, d) both achiral, e) left structure achiral
and right structure chiral, f) both chiral, g) both achiral, h) both achiral, i) both chiral, j)
both chiral, k) both chiral, l) both achiral.

1.3

a)
b)
c)
III
III
IV
II and IV
II and IV
II and III
diastereomers diastereomers diastereomers

1)
2)
3)
2.1

1)
2
1
2
0

a)
b)
c)
d)

2)
no
no
yes
yes

3)
yes
yes
no
no

4)
no
no
yes
yes

5)
yes
yes
no
no

6)
no
no
yes
no

2.2

6 tetrahedral stereocenters, 26 = 64 possible stereoisomers

2.3

3.1

3.2

a)
b)
c)
d)

(S)-1-chloro-2-propanol
(S)-2-bromobutane
(2S,3S)-2,3-dichloropentane
(2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol

a) (R)-2-chloropentane
CH2 CH2 CH3
Cl

3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
5.1
5.2
5.3

CH3

b) (2R,3S)-3-methyl-2-hexanol
HO
H3 C

CH3
C

C
H

CH2 CH2 CH3

H
H
note* Your structure may be drawn differently and still be correct if the stereocenter still
has the correct configuration.
41.5
57.4 % ee
21.3% S and 78.7% R
+ 4.90
31.6 % ee
65.8 % S and 34.2 % R

Name __________________________________________________Sixth Drill Test (Sample A)

Organic Chemistry 2210DR
Answer All Questions
1.

Consider the molecule at right, and answer each of the questions about it.
a) Is it superimposable on its mirror image? _____
b) Is the molecule chiral? _____
CH3 CH2
CH2 CH3
H

c) Does it have a plane of symmetry? _____

d) Is it optically active? _____
e) Is it a meso compound? _____

2.

Give the IUPAC name of each, using R or S when appropriate.

CH3
CH3 CH2 CH2
H
OH
a)
b)
C
Br
C H
|
|
CH2 CH2 CH3
CH(CH3 )2

3.

a) A sample of S-2-heptanol was found to have an optical purity (or % ee) of 30%. What
is the composition of the other 70% of the material? Show your work.

b) The remaining 70% referred to in 3a could be called a ___________________.

4.

What is the relationship between the structures in each of these pairs? Possible answers
are: Same compound, Enantiomers, Diastereomers, and Constitutional (Structural)
isomers.
H
CH3 CH2
Br
Br
H
H
OH
H
a)
b)
CH3
and
C OH and C
|
|
H
H
Br
Br
CH3
CH2 CH3

CH3 CH2

CH3
c)

and

d)

CH3
H CH3
e)

C
Cl

C
H

CH3
C

CH3

H Cl

CH3
C
Cl H

Cl
and

C=C
H

Cl

Cl

CH3

CH3
C=C

CH3 CH2

Name __________________________________________________Sixth Drill Test (Sample B)

Organic Chemistry 2210DR
Answer All Questions
1.

Give the IUPAC name of each compound using R-S designation where appropriate.
HO CH3
CH3

b) Cl
H

a)
H3 C
CH3
2.

CH2 CH3

What is the relationship between the structures in each of the following pairs? Possible
answers are: same compound, enantiomers, diastereomers, constitutional isomers.
OH
H

H
OH

a)
HO

b)

H
COOH

c) H
HO

OH HO
H
CH3

COOH
H

HO

d)

Cl

CH3

HO
H

3.

H
Cl

HOOC

C
H C
NH 2 H3 C
Cl
NH 2
COOH
H

HOOC

H
COOH

CH3

A sample of 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine has a specific rotation of -4.5. The specific

rotation of optically pure ()-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine is -11.5.
a) What is the optical purity (enatiomeric excess) of the sample?
b) What is the percentage of (+)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine in the sample?

4.

Draw the structure of a chiral cyclic alkane having a molecular formula of C5H10.