Question

What are the stereoisomers of cyclic compounds?

Answer 1

Just as with acyclic compounds, cyclic compounds can have geometric and optical isomers.

In general, if any two sp³ carbons in a ring have two different substituent groups (not counting other ring atoms), stereoisomerism is possible.

Consider, for example, 1,2-dimethylcyclopentane.

Geometric Isomers

1,2-Dimethylcyclopentane exists as the cis isomer, with both CH₃ groups on the same side of the ring, or as the trans isomer, with the CH₃ groups on opposite sides of the ring.

Optical Isomers

trans-1,2-Dimethylcyclopentane exists as two optical isomers.

They are nonsuperimposable mirror images of each other.