How many geometric isomers exist for #"2,4-dichloroheptane"#?

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 23, 2017

Are there not FOUR?

Explanation:

We gots.....

#H_3stackrel(1)C-stackrel(2)CH(Cl)CH_2stackrel(4)CH(Cl)CH_2CH_2stackrel(7)CH_3#

Carbons 2 and 4 as written are chiral.....and since there are #2# chiral centres, there can be in total #2^2# stereoisomers, i.e. enantiomeric #R,R#, and #S,S#, and enantiomeric #R,S#, and #S,R#.

This is really only a matter of intellectual interest, inasmuch as it would be very hard to separate the diastereomers....

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