What is an achiral carbon?

1 Answer
anor277
May 28, 2018

This is a carbon centre that is not of the form #CR_1R_2R_3R_4#... In other words it is of the form #C(R_1)_2R_2R_3#...

Explanation:

#CR_1R_2R_3R_4# substitution has a geometric dimension. Given a tetrahedral array, the carbon centre can be left-handed or right-handed with respect to the substitution. Such a carbon centre is CHIRAL...

commons.wikimedia

The so-called stereoisomer on the LEFT (left-handed with respect to carbon) is geometrically different to the stereoisomer on the RIGHT. The two isomers are optical isomers that CANNOT be superimposed. With a model (and you should be using a model!) the interchange of any two groups results in the enantiomer, interchange again and you get the enantiomer of an enantiomer, i.e. the original isomer.

See here and links for more explanation and examples....

For a more practical example, consider the pair of shoes that you put on for work. Can you put your left shoe on your right hoof? Will it be comfortable? But how is your left foot different from your right hoof. They are (usually) identical structurally...

Related questions
See all questions in Chiral and Achiral Molecules
Impact of this question
4251 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License