What is an example of a meso compound?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 21, 2016

The simplest one I can think of is 2,3-butanediol

Explanation:

C_2 and C_3, the methylene carbons are POTENTIALLY chiral. Each chiral centre has 4 different substituents. Nevertheless, while there are "RR" and "SS" stereoisomers, the RS isomer is the mirror image of the SR isomer, and nevertheless the RS is superposable upon the SR isomer. Thus the RS isomer is the "meso" isomer.

You can accept what I say (because I think it's true), but it would be better if you got a set of molecular models, and actually construct representative models. Most professors of organic chemistry would have a set on models on their table in order to help them visualize structure and interpret reactivity.

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