Which of the following compounds has the highest number of stereoisomers?

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Q: Which of the following compounds has the highest number of stereoisomers?

Solution: 2,3-butanediol has two chiral centers, leading to 4 stereoisomers, while the others have fewer.

Steps: 5

Step 1: Understand what stereoisomers are. Stereoisomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula and connectivity of atoms but differ in the arrangement of atoms in space.
Step 2: Identify chiral centers in a compound. A chiral center is a carbon atom that is attached to four different groups.
Step 3: Count the number of chiral centers in each compound. The more chiral centers a compound has, the more stereoisomers it can have.
Step 4: Use the formula 2^n to calculate the maximum number of stereoisomers, where n is the number of chiral centers. For example, if a compound has 2 chiral centers, the maximum number of stereoisomers is 2^2 = 4.
Step 5: Compare the number of stereoisomers for each compound. 2,3-butanediol has 2 chiral centers, leading to 4 stereoisomers, while the other compounds have fewer chiral centers and thus fewer stereoisomers.