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Chemistry LibreTexts

Stereocenter

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If the interchange of two ligands on an atom in a molecule results in a stereoisomer of the molecule, the atom is called a stereocenter or stereogenic center.

eg. 1:

stereocenter1.png

Interchange of, say, the ethyl group and the hydrogen atom on the carbon atom shown in red in 1 results in 2, which is a stereoisomer of 1. (1 and 2 are enantiomers.)

stereocenter2.png

Thus, the highlighted carbon atom in 1 is a stereocenter.

eg. 2:

stereocenter3.png

Interchange of the two ligands on the carbon atom shown in red in 3 results in 4, which is a stereoisomer of 3. (3 and 4 are diastereomers.)

stereocenter4.png

Thus, the highlighted carbon atom in 3 is a stereocenter.

see also chiral center

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This page titled Stereocenter is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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