Identify each of the following as the D or L enantiomer:
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1
Identify the chiral center in the molecule.
Determine the orientation of the substituents around the chiral center.
Locate the hydroxyl group (-OH) on the chiral carbon.
If the hydroxyl group is on the right side in a Fischer projection, it is the D-enantiomer.
If the hydroxyl group is on the left side in a Fischer projection, it is the L-enantiomer.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Enantiomers
Enantiomers are a type of stereoisomer that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. They have the same molecular formula and connectivity but differ in the spatial arrangement of atoms. This property is crucial in chemistry and biology, as enantiomers can have vastly different effects in biological systems, such as in drug efficacy.
Chirality refers to the geometric property of a molecule that makes it non-superimposable on its mirror image. A chiral molecule typically has a carbon atom bonded to four different substituents, creating two distinct forms: the D (dextrorotatory) and L (levorotatory) enantiomers. Understanding chirality is essential for identifying and classifying enantiomers.
The Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) priority rules are a set of guidelines used to assign priorities to the substituents attached to a chiral center. By determining the order of these substituents based on atomic number and connectivity, one can establish whether a molecule is a D or L enantiomer. This systematic approach is vital for accurately identifying and differentiating enantiomers in stereochemistry.