How do we know if a solution of a chiral compound is optically active?

1 Answer
anor277
May 23, 2016

How else but by experiment? You need (i) to find a chiral carbon, i.e. #CR_1R_2R_3R_4#; this stereoisomer must (ii) be present in quantity.

Explanation:

From the above, we need first to find a chiral carbon in your compound. This is a necessary but not sufficient condition. This optical antipode, this stereoisomer, must be present in quantity, for its solution to be optically active.

If there is a #50:50# mix of stereoisomers, then a solution of this mixture will NOT rotate plane-polarized light. A solution of the 1 stereoisomer, will rotate plane-polarized light.

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