Question

a) Locate the stereogenic centers in the ball-and-stick model of ezetimibe (trade name Zetia), a cholesterol-lowering drug. (b) Label each stereogenic center as R or S.

Short answer

A stereogenic center is a point in a molecule in which one carbon atom is bonded to four different groups of atoms. This carbon atom is considered to be asymmetrical in nature.

By interchanging any group on the asymmetrical carbon, it leads to the formation of a stereoisomer.

Step-by-step solution

Meaning of stereogenic centers

A stereogenic center is a point in a molecule in which one carbon atom is bonded to four different groups of atoms. This carbon atom is considered to be asymmetrical in nature.

By interchanging any group on the asymmetrical carbon, it leads to the formation of a stereoisomer.

Stereogenic centers in ezetimibe

The structure of the ezetimibe molecule is shown below:

It has three stereocenters, as shown in the above structure.