Chapter 5, Problem 5.36P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Chiral carbon atoms present in nepetalactone has to be labelled. The number of possible stereoisomers for nepetalactone has to be given and to show that nepetalactone is a terpene.

Concept Introduction:

Terpenes are made by joining five-carbon units, usually in a head to tail-fashion.

Isoprene unit:

Branched end of isoprene – Head

Unbranched end of isoprene - Tail

Chirality: It refers to a Carbon atom in a molecule that contains four different substituents.

Stereoisomers: Two compounds with same molecular formula but different in their orientation are considered as isomers.

Number of possible stereoisomers for a compound can be determined as,

$\begin{array}{l}{\text{No of possible stereoisomers = 2}}^{\text{n}}\\ \\ \text{where,}\\ \text{n = no}\text{. of chiral atoms in the compound}\end{array}$