Organic Chemistry Year 2 Flashcards
what are stereoisomers
molecules that have same structural formula but, atoms are arranged differently in space
what are 2 types of stereoisomers
geometric (E/Z) and optical
what is a chiral carbon
carbon atom that has 4 different atoms or groups of atoms attached to it
what are enantiomers
2 optical isomers, compounds with a chiral centre
properties of enantiomers
-non-superimposable mirror images
-physical and chemical properties are identical
-differ in ability to rotate plane polarised light
what is the main difference between 2 enantiomers
-one turns the plane polarised light one way, the other turns it the other way
-they are optically active
what is a racemic mixture
when one enantiomer turns the plane polarised light one way by an angle and the other enantiomer turns it the other way by the same angle
what does it mean if a compound is described as enantiopure
it only contains 1 enantiomer
disadvantages of separating enantiomers
very expensive and time consuming
easier to produce synthetic drugs that are racemic mixture than producing 1 enantiomer
advantages of producing 1 enantiomer
the other enantiomer is harmful
only half of a racemic mixture is effective, it is a waste of materials
example of racemic compound drug
thalidomide, a drug in 1950s one enantiomers were harmful, causing birth defects, the other helped pregnant women with side effects
even though the enantiomers were separated, the drug inverted from the safe enantiomer to the harmful one during metabolic reactions in the human body
what’s the functional group of aldehydes and ketones
C=O
on the end for aldehydes and on one of the inner carbons for ketones
how can aldehydes and ketones be prepared
by oxidising primary and secondary alcohols (respectively) with agents such as sulphuric acid
what must you do to aldehydes right after they are created
distil them, further oxidation of the formed aldehyde and form a carboxylic acid
