Meso Compounds
![]() |
Meso compounds are a special case of stereoisomers which occur when a molecule has two chiral centers and each chiral center has identical substituants. | |
![]() |
Consider the stereoismers of 2,3-dibromobutane. | |
|
||
|
||
![]() |
In this case, we have the possiblity of stereoisomers called meso compounds. | |
![]() |
There should be four stereoisomers of 2,3-dibromobutane: | |
|
||
(2R,3R) | (2S,3S) | |
|
||
|
||
What about this pair of molecules? | ||
(2R,3S) | (2S,3R) | |
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
![]() |
The meso compound is a diastereomer of both of the compounds shown on the top row. | |
Copyright © 1996 -1999, 2007 by Frank R. Gorga - All rights reserved.
Last Update: 12-Mar-2007