How do diastereomers differ from optical isomers?
1 Answer
Dec 20, 2016
Diastereomers do not differ from optical isomers.
Explanation:
Diastereomers are optical isomers of each other.
Optical isomers have chiral centres and are not superimposable on each other.
Enantiomers are optical isomers that are nonsuperimosable on each other.
Diastereomers are optical isomers that are not enantiomers.
They are nonsuperimposable, non-mirror images of each other.
For example, consider the molecules below.
The molecules that are diagonally opposite from each other are enantiomers.
The molecules that are on adjacent corners are diastereomers of each other.
