What is the stereochemical configuration of 2-bromobutane?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the stereochemical configuration of 2-bromobutane?
R
S
R and S
Neither
2-bromobutane can exist as two enantiomers, R and S, due to the presence of a chiral center at the second carbon.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the stereochemical configuration of 2-bromobutane?
Solution: 2-bromobutane can exist as two enantiomers, R and S, due to the presence of a chiral center at the second carbon.
Steps: 4
Step 1: Identify the structure of 2-bromobutane. It has a four-carbon chain with a bromine atom attached to the second carbon.
Step 2: Determine if there is a chiral center. A chiral center is a carbon atom that is attached to four different groups. In 2-bromobutane, the second carbon is attached to a bromine, a hydrogen, a methyl group (CH3), and an ethyl group (C2H5), making it a chiral center.
Step 3: Understand that the presence of a chiral center means the molecule can exist in two different forms, called enantiomers. These are mirror images of each other.
Step 4: Assign the stereochemical configurations. The two enantiomers are designated as 'R' (rectus) and 'S' (sinister) based on the arrangement of the groups around the chiral center.