CHAPTER 8: Question 4

 

2D Explanations

This compound contains two stereocentres, so there are four stereoisomers of the compound. The stereoisomers will form two pairs of enantiomers, one pair in which the two substituents are cis to one another (shown in red below) and one pair in which the two substituents are trans to one another (shown in blue). Either of the red structures is a diastereomer of either of the blue structures.

Changing the CH2 group to C(Me)2 gives a molecule which no longer contains any stereocentres. Hence, there are only two stereoisomers of this compound, a cis and a trans-isomer which are diastereomers of one another.
 
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