Organic Chemistry : Stereochemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Organic Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Help With Enantiomers

Cholic acid derivative

How many possible stereoisomers does the following steroid derivative have?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Here there are 11 asymmetric carbons and one E/Z isomerism.

So, the number of possible stereocenters from asymmetric carbons is , and the number of possible stereoisomers from E/Z isomerisms is .

Thus the number of stereoisomers from asymmetric carbons is doubled, and   possible stereoisomers

Cholic acid derivative 3d

Example Question #41 : Stereochemistry

What is the IUPAC name for the given organic molecule?

Screen shot 2015 09 21 at 1.19.58 pm

Possible Answers:

(3S, 5R)-2,2,3-trimethylhexan-5-ol

(3R, 5R)-2,2,3-trimethylhexan-5-ol

(2R, 4S)-4,5,5-trimethylhexan-2-ol

(2S, 4R)-4,5,5-trimethylhexan-2-ol

(2R, 4R)-4,5,5-trimethylhexan-2-ol

Correct answer:

(2R, 4S)-4,5,5-trimethylhexan-2-ol

Explanation:

The absolute configuration around carbons 2 and 4 is R and S, respectively. The molecule is a hexanol, and the numbering starts with the carbon closest to the hydroxyl group.

Example Question #42 : Stereochemistry

Which of the following structures is equivalent to the enantiomer of the molecule whose Fischer Projection is shown below?

Screen shot 2015 09 21 at 2.08.29 pm

Screen shot 2015 09 21 at 2.20.32 pm

Possible Answers:

I

V

II

IV

III

Correct answer:

IV

Explanation:

The compound shown is SS, so we need to look for the compound that is RR. 

Example Question #13 : Help With Enantiomers

What is the Fischer projection of the following molecule?

Screen shot 2015 11 09 at 3.48.42 pm

Screen shot 2015 11 09 at 3.59.36 pm

Possible Answers:

II

I

IV

III

Correct answer:

I

Explanation:

The absolute configuration of the given molecule is   (amino group is R, methyl group is S). Putting the methyl group on the top and the alcohol on the bottom, this puts the amino group on the left, and the methyl group on the right. Recall that in the Fischer projection, the vertical bonds are dashed and are going into the plane of the screen/paper, while the horizontal bonds are wedges and are coming out of the plane of the screen/paper. One way to remember this is to think of Fischer projections as a skeleton (dashed vertical) wearing a bowtie (wedged horizontal).

Example Question #44 : Stereochemistry

What is the IUPAC name for the molecule shown?

Screen shot 2015 11 09 at 4.10.48 pm

Possible Answers:

S-3-methylbut-1-en-4-ol

S-2-methylbut-3-en-1-ol

R-3-methylbut-1-en-4-ol

R-2-methylbut-3-en-1-ol

Correct answer:

S-2-methylbut-3-en-1-ol

Explanation:

The molecule's highest priority functional group is the  group, therefore, numbering starts at the left-most carbon. The absolute configuration of the molecule at carbon  is S.

Example Question #44 : Stereochemistry

What is the IUPAC name for the molecule shown?

Screen shot 2015 11 12 at 6.01.33 pm

Possible Answers:

(2R,3S)-3-methyl-2-pentanol

(2S,3S)-3-methyl-2-pentanol

(2S,3R)-3-methyl-2-pentanol

(2R,3R)-3-methyl-2-pentanol

Correct answer:

(2R,3S)-3-methyl-2-pentanol

Explanation:

Carbon number : hydroxyl is first priority, The rest of the molecule is second, methyl is third. Placing  in back makes  go clockwise. Therefore, it is R. Carbon number : alkyl with hydroxyl is first priority, The rest of the molecule is second, methyl is third. Placing  in back makes  go counterclockwise. Therefore, it is S.

Example Question #21 : Help With Enantiomers

Which of the following applies to the molecule shown?

Screen shot 2015 11 09 at 5.11.34 pm

Possible Answers:

3R

3S

2R

2S

Correct answer:

2R

Explanation:

Aldehyde group gets first priority; therefore, aldehyde carbon is carbon number . Aldehyde group is first priority, alkyne group is second priority, methyl group is third priority.  is clockwise, so the molecule is R.

Example Question #22 : Help With Enantiomers

What is the IUPAC name of the molecule below?

Screen shot 2015 11 09 at 5.21.30 pm

Possible Answers:

S-3-butanamine

S-2-butanamine

R-2-butanamine

R-3-butanamine

Correct answer:

R-2-butanamine

Explanation:

At the chiral carbon, the amino group is first priority, the ethyl group is second priority, and the methyl group is third priority.  is clockwise when putting H in the back, so the molecule is R.

Example Question #21 : Help With Enantiomers

What is the IUPAC name of the compound shown?

Image1

Possible Answers:

(2R,3R)-3-propylpent-4-en-2-ol

(2R,3R)-3-vinyl-2-pentanol

(3S,4R)-3-propylpent-1-en-4-ol

(2R,3S)-3-propylpent-4-en-2-ol

Correct answer:

(2R,3R)-3-propylpent-4-en-2-ol

Explanation:

Numbering of carbon chain goes from hydroxyl group (on carbon ) to double bond (carbons  and ). Hydroxyl carbon and propyl carbon are both R.

Example Question #24 : Help With Enantiomers

What are the absolute configurations at carbons labelled , and  in the molecule below, respectively?

Screen shot 2015 11 09 at 6.00.01 pm

Possible Answers:

S, R, S

R, S, R

S, R, R

S, S, R

Correct answer:

S, R, R

Explanation:

Carbon number : Hydroxyl is , group going up is , group going down is . Therefore it's S. Carbon number : Group going to chloride is , group going to hydroxyl is , methyl is . Therefore it's R. Carbon number : Chloride is , group going up is , group going down is . Therefore it's R.

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