Question

Question:

a. Draw all possible stereoisomers of the following compound:

b. Which stereoisomers are optically inactive?

Short answer

1. There are 3 possible stereoisomers and they are drawn below,

b. Meso compound is optically inactive as it has a sigma plane.

Step-by-step solution

Stereoisomers

Stereoisomers are those which has the same molecular formula in all the structures but has different orientation and connectivity in space.

Optically active and inactive stereoisomer

Optically active stereoisomers are those which has no sigma plane passing through it or have a chiral centre in its structure.

Optically inactive stereoisomers are those which has sigma plane passing through it or has no chiral centre in its structure.

probable stereoisomers

The probable stereoisomers of this formula are,

1. So, there are 3 possible isomers of the following compound.

2. The meso compound will be optically inactive as it has a sigma plane passing through it which actually devises it into two identical part.