Why do meso compounds not have enantiomers?

1 Answer
Dr. Hayek
Nov 15, 2015

See explanation.

Explanation:

A meso compound is a molecule that contains two stereogenic centres with a plane of symmetry.
enter image source here

A meso compound is not a chiral molecule because it is superimposable to its mirror image.
enter image source here

Enantiomers by definition are one chiral molecule and its mirror image. The chiral molecule and its mirror image are not superimposable and therefore, they are two different molecules, however, a meso compound and its mirror image are the same and therefore, they cannot be enantiomers.

#color(grey)("Images Source: Organic Chemistry-Janice Gorzynski Smith 3rd Ed.")#

Related questions
See all questions in Diastereomers
Impact of this question
6153 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License