Question

Question #3d213

Answer 1

There are 4 stereoisomers of 2-bromo-4-chloropentane.

Explanation:

The formula of 2-bromo-4-chloropentane is

`"CH"_3 stackrelcolor(blue)("*")("C")"HClCH"_2 stackrelcolor(blue)("*")("C")"HBrCH"_3`

The two chiral carbons are marked with an asterisk.

The maximum number of stereoisomers is `2^n = 2^2 = 4`.

The various possibilities are shown below.

Compound `bb"A"` is `(2S,4R)"-2-bromo-4-chloropentane"`.

Compound `bb"B"` is `(2R,4S)"-2-bromo-4-chloropentane"`.

`bb"A"` and `bb"B"` are enantiomers (nonsuperimposable mirror images) of each other.

Compound `bb"C"` is `(2R,4R)"-2-bromo-4-chloropentane"`.

Compound `bb"D"` is `(2S,4S)"-2-bromo-4-chloropentane"`.

`bb"C"` and `bb"D"` are enantiomers of each other.