Stereochemistry Lecture Review

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the Stereochemistry lecture.

Stereochemistry

The study of the 3-dimensional properties and reactions of molecules.

Stereoisomers

Compounds with the same connectivity but different arrangements in space.

Enantiomers

Stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images; differ only in the direction of optical rotation.

Diastereomers

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images and have different physical properties.

Asymmetric center

An sp3 carbon atom with four different groups attached.

Optical activity

The ability of a substance to rotate the plane of plane-polarized light.

Chiral compound

A compound that is optically active (does rotate light).

Polarimeter

A device that measures the optical rotation of a chiral compound.

Chirality

A property of an object that has a mirror image that is different from the object itself.

Achiral

Mirror images that can be superimposed on each other.

Stereocenter

Any atom at which the interchange of two groups gives a stereoisomer.

Cahn–Ingold–Prelog Priority System

A system for assigning priority to groups attached to a stereogenic center based on atomic number.

Enantiomeric excess (ee)

A measure of the purity of an enantiomer in a mixture.

Racemic mixture

A mixture that contains equal quantities of d- and l-enantiomers.

Meso compound

A compound that has an internal plane of symmetry and is optically inactive.

Diastereomers: Cis-trans Isomerism

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images and differ in arrangement around double bonds or rings.