Why is a meso compound optically inactive?

1 Answer
anor277
May 6, 2016

Because a #"meso"# compound is a symmetric #RS# compound.

Explanation:

Given this symmetry, if one chiral centre interacts with plane-polarized light, the other chiral centre, the mirror image of the first, will reverse that interaction.

Related questions
See all questions in Meso Compounds
Impact of this question
8625 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License