Question

Question #67d83

Answer 1

There are three chiral centres in atropine sulfate.

Explanation:

I have marked them with asterisks in the diagram below.

(Adapted from Sigma-Aldrich)

Carbon `3` of the azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane system appears to be chiral. However, it sits on an internal plane of symmetry passing through atoms `3, 8`, and the mid-point of the `"6-7"` bond, so it is achiral.

Atoms `1` and `5` are on opposite sides of this plane, so they are part of a meso system.

It is carbon `2` of the propionic acid chain that contributes to the optical activity of the compound.