Question

What is an example of a meso compound?

Answer 1

The simplest one I can think of is 2,3-butanediol

Explanation:

`C_2` and `C_3`, the methylene carbons are POTENTIALLY chiral. Each chiral centre has 4 different substituents. Nevertheless, while there are `"RR"` and `"SS"` stereoisomers, the `RS` isomer is the mirror image of the `SR` isomer, and nevertheless the `RS` is superposable upon the `SR` isomer. Thus the `RS` isomer is the `"meso"` isomer.

You can accept what I say (because I think it's true), but it would be better if you got a set of molecular models, and actually construct representative models. Most professors of organic chemistry would have a set on models on their table in order to help them visualize structure and interpret reactivity.