How do represent chirality for #"2-hydroxybutyric acid"#?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 21, 2018

How do you propose we do it on this site?

Explanation:

We gots...#H_3C-CH_2stackrel"*"CH(OH)CO_2H#...but luckily some punter has posted it on the web...

en.wikipedia.org

If we use the ipso #C-H# bond as the axis...the which projects into the page, priority is COUNTERCLOCKWISE round this axis...i.e. #"hydroxyl">"carboxyl">"ethyl"#...and thus a sinister geometry...the hydrogen that projects into the page is the substituent WITH least priority.

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