Chiral Center Priority: Determining R and S Configurations Using CIP Rules

  • Thread starter Destroxia
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In summary, the conversation discusses the priority of substituents attached to a chiral center carbon, specifically an H, CH3, OH, and CH2CH2OH. The question is whether the OH takes priority over CH2CH2OH due to its direct connection to the carbon. The proposed solution suggests a clockwise priority of OH, CH2CH2OH, and CH3, resulting in an R configuration. However, the final decision on priority depends on the chosen convention, such as the C-I-P system.
  • #1
Destroxia
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Homework Statement



Say you have a chiral center carbon, attached to it are a H, a CH3, an OH, and a CH2CH2OH. The H is pointing away from you, and in a clockwise direction it goes, CH3, OH, CH2CH2OH

My question is what is the priority of this? My main confusion is in the fact that since both the OH and CH2CH2OH have an OH in them, does the OH take priority since it is directly connected to the carbon? As in, do you just stop right there, and you know it has more priority?

The Attempt at a Solution



This is what I THINK it should be...

Priorities:
H: (4)
CH3: (3)
OH: (1)
CH2CH2OH: (2)

Therefore, it goes from OH, to CH2CH2OH, to CH3, which is a clockwise direction, therefore it is R ?
 
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RyanTAsher said:
R and S.
Then, one uses "C-I-P" detailed in the link.
 

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