Are cis en-en ethylenediamines always chiral in octahedral complexes?

In summary, optical isomers are molecules that have the same chemical formula and connectivity but differ in their three-dimensional arrangement. This results in mirror images of each other, known as enantiomers. Cis-en-en is a type of optical isomer that has two identical groups on the same side of a double bond. This arrangement results in a lack of symmetry and different physical and chemical properties compared to its trans-en-en counterpart. Understanding the concept of optical isomers and their different forms, such as cis-en-en, is important in fields such as chemistry and pharmacology due to their potential impact on the properties and effects of molecules.
  • #1
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Hello, I am wondering...

If you have two ethylenediamines (en) oriented in a cis en-en fashion, will they always have an optical isomer? I have not found a case yet where they do, and it would probably save time to assume optically active in an environment presseed for time (such as on a test) Thanks.
 
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  • #2

1. What are optical isomers?

Optical isomers, also known as enantiomers, are molecules that have the same chemical formula and connectivity but differ in their three-dimensional arrangement of atoms. They are mirror images of each other and cannot be superimposed, similar to how our left and right hands are mirror images of each other.

2. How are optical isomers named?

Optical isomers are named using the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) system. This system assigns a priority to each substituent on a chiral carbon based on the atomic number of the atoms attached. The molecule is then oriented so that the lowest priority substituent is pointing away from the viewer, and the remaining three substituents are arranged clockwise or counterclockwise to determine the R (rectus) or S (sinister) configuration.

3. What is the significance of optical isomers in chemistry?

Optical isomers have the same physical and chemical properties, except for their interaction with plane-polarized light. This property is known as optical activity, and it is used to separate and identify enantiomers in a process called chiral resolution. The different biological activities of enantiomers also make their separation crucial in drug development and synthesis.

4. What is the difference between cis and trans isomers?

Cis and trans isomers are two types of geometric isomers. They differ in their arrangement around a double bond, where cis isomers have similar groups on the same side of the double bond, and trans isomers have them on opposite sides. This results in different physical and chemical properties, such as boiling point and reactivity.

5. What is the difference between cis and trans en-en isomers?

Cis and trans en-en isomers are two types of geometric isomers that have double bonds between two carbon atoms attached to two different functional groups, commonly called en-en. They differ in the arrangement of these functional groups around the double bond, with cis en-en isomers having them on the same side and trans en-en isomers having them on opposite sides. This can affect the molecule's overall shape and properties, such as solubility and biological activity.

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