CHEM 203 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Racemic Mixture, Hydration Reaction, Electrophilic Addition
Document Summary
Stereogenic (occasionally improperly described as chiral) carbon atom: one bound to four different ligands. Equal probability of pathways a and b: formation of a 50:50 mixture of products a and b. Racemic mixture, racemate: a 50:50 mixture of the two enantiomeric forms of a compound. Principle: a reaction between an achiral substrate (such as trans-2-butene) and an achiral reagent (such as h x) that leads to a chiral product will always produce a racemic mixture of products. Principle: for the sake of convenience, a chiral product obtained through a reaction that furnishes a racemic mixture may be depicted as a single enantiomer. It is understood that the reaction will actually give both enantiomers of the product in equal amounts. Stereochemical aspects of the electrophilic addition of h x to alkenes: chiral products will be obtained in both enantiomeric forms: Example: the reaction of trans-2-butene with a generic h x (x = cl, br, i, but not f) leading to a.
