CHAPTER 8: Question 4
3D 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. The 3D structures will illustrate the
relationships between the four stereoisomers.
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. The 3D structures will illustrate the relationships between the
two stereoisomers.
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