Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
McMurry
www.cengage.com/chemistry/mcmurry
Chapter 5
Stereochemistry at
Tetrahedral Centers
Rule 1:
Look at the four atoms directly attached to the chirality
center, and rank them according to atomic number.
With the lowest priority group pointing away, look at
remaining 3 groups in a plane
Clockwise is designated R (from Latin word for “right”)
Rule 3:
Multiple-bonded atoms are equivalent to the same
number of single-bonded atoms
5.6 Diastereomers
Molecules with more than one chirality center usually
have mirror image stereoisomers that are enantiomers