Chapter 8, Problem 63P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The structural isomers of the given product that is optically active are to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Meso compounds are the molecules that can be super imposed on their mirror images through stereocenters. When light is passed through a meso compound, one half of the compound turns the plane of polarized light in one direction and the other half turns the plane of the light in exactly the opposite direction resulting in no change.

Meso compounds don’t have enantiomers since both isomers look exactly the same around multiple stereocenters.

When a compound is optically active, the compound has optical isomers.