- #1
Help with finding chirality centres
- Thread starter andrewvidler
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- Chirality
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around identifying chiral centers in complex molecules, focusing on methods and challenges associated with recognizing chirality in various structures. Participants share their experiences and seek clarification on the criteria for determining chirality.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant expresses difficulty in identifying chiral centers in a given molecule and seeks assistance.
- Another participant asks about methods for recognizing chiral carbons and suggests that attaching images instead of documents would be more effective.
- A participant mentions understanding the basic definition of a chiral carbon but struggles with complex molecules that have multiple chirality centers.
- One suggestion involves examining atoms in cycles and comparing them to determine chirality, with an example of simple molecules provided for practice.
- A participant questions the criteria for what constitutes a different substituent when identifying chiral centers, indicating confusion about how far to trace branches from the chiral center.
- A response clarifies that one should trace branches until a difference is found or until they meet, whichever occurs first.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the identification of chiral centers, with some sharing methods and others highlighting confusion. The discussion remains unresolved as participants continue to seek clarification and share differing perspectives.
Contextual Notes
Some participants mention challenges with complex molecules and the criteria for distinguishing substituents, indicating potential limitations in their understanding of chirality.
- #2
Borek
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What methods of recognizing chiral carbons do you know?
Please note that attaching .doc files is not a good idea - many people are reluctant to open them, as they can contain viruses. In such a case best approach is to attach an image.
Edit: I think I am bored, I have replaced doc with png in your post.
Please note that attaching .doc files is not a good idea - many people are reluctant to open them, as they can contain viruses. In such a case best approach is to attach an image.
Edit: I think I am bored, I have replaced doc with png in your post.
- #3
- #4
Borek
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Perhaps you are thrown off by cycles?
Select an atom, move out from it in each direction and compare atoms on the way. If you get to the same place from both sides and there were no differences on the way - atom is not chiral.
Try it on some simple molecules first, say cyclohexanol and 2-methylcyclohexanol.
Select an atom, move out from it in each direction and compare atoms on the way. If you get to the same place from both sides and there were no differences on the way - atom is not chiral.
Try it on some simple molecules first, say cyclohexanol and 2-methylcyclohexanol.
- #5
andrewvidler
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- #6
Borek
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andrewvidler said:
Either till you "meet" or till you find a difference - whichever comes first.
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