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5.9: A Review of Isomerism

  • Page ID
    67101
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    Objective

    After completing this section, you should be able to explain the differences among constitutional (structural) isomers and stereoisomers (geometric isomers).

    Key Terms

    Make certain that you can define, and use in context, the key terms below.

    • constitutional
    • (structural) isomers
    • stereoisomers

    The following flow chart can be used to identify the relationship of two compounds with respect to isomerization:

    RERiO.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Different types of isomers. When using the flow chart, it is really important to remember that each decision on the flow chart is related to comparing two molecules, ie. it doesn't make sense to ask "what is compound A", but it does make sense to ask "how are compounds A and B related"? A molecule may be the enantiomer of another molecule, but a diastereomer of another. (CC-BY-SA 4.0; Mark Coster via StackExchange)

    Conformational Isomers

    The C–C single bonds in ethane, propane, and other alkanes are formed by the overlap of an sp3 hybrid orbital on one carbon atom with an sp3 hybrid orbital on another carbon atom, forming a σ bond. Each sp3 hybrid orbital is cylindrically symmetrical (all cross-sections are circles), resulting in a carbon–carbon single bond that is also cylindrically symmetrical about the C–C axis. Because rotation about the carbon–carbon single bond can occur without changing the overlap of the sp3 hybrid orbitals, there is no significant electronic energy barrier to rotation. Consequently, many different arrangements of the atoms are possible, each corresponding to different degrees of rotation. Differences in three-dimensional structure resulting from rotation about a σ bond are called differences in conformation, and each different arrangement is called a conformational isomer (or conformer).

    Structural Isomers

    Unlike conformational isomers, which do not differ in connectivity, structural isomers differ in connectivity, as illustrated here for 1-propanol and 2-propanol. Although these two alcohols have the same molecular formula (C3H8O), the position of the –OH group differs, which leads to differences in their physical and chemical properties.

    Chemical structure of 1-propanol (n-propanol) and 2-propanol (isopropanol).

    In the conversion of one structural isomer to another, at least one bond must be broken and reformed at a different position in the molecule. Consider, for example, the following five structures represented by the formula C5H12:

    Of these structures, (a) and (d) represent the same compound, as do (b) and (c). No bonds have been broken and reformed; the molecules are simply rotated about a 180° vertical axis. Only three—n-pentane (a) and (d), 2-methylbutane (b) and (c), and 2,2-dimethylpropane (e)—are structural isomers. Because no bonds are broken in going from (a) to (d) or from (b) to (c), these alternative representations are not structural isomers. The three structural isomers—either (a) or (d), either (b) or (c), and (e)—have distinct physical and chemical properties.

    Stereoisomers

    Molecules with the same connectivity but different arrangements of the atoms in space are called stereoisomers. There are two types of stereoisomers: geometric and optical. Geometric isomers differ in the relative position(s) of substituents in a rigid molecule. Simple rotation about a C–C σ bond in an alkene, for example, cannot occur because of the presence of the π bond. The substituents are therefore rigidly locked into a particular spatial arrangement. Thus a carbon–carbon multiple bond, or in some cases a ring, prevents one geometric isomer from being readily converted to the other. The members of an isomeric pair are identified as either cis or trans, and interconversion between the two forms requires breaking and reforming one or more bonds. Because their structural difference causes them to have different physical and chemical properties, cis and trans isomers are actually two distinct chemical compounds.

    Note

    Stereoisomers have the same connectivity but different arrangements of atoms in space.

    Optical isomers are molecules whose structures are mirror images but cannot be superimposed on one another in any orientation. Optical isomers have identical physical properties, although their chemical properties may differ in asymmetric environments. Molecules that are nonsuperimposable mirror images of each other are said to be chiral (pronounced “ky-ral,” from the Greek cheir, meaning “hand”). Examples of some familiar chiral objects are your hands, feet, and ears. As shown in part (a) in Figure 5.9.1, your left and right hands are nonsuperimposable mirror images. (Try putting your right shoe on your left foot—it just doesn’t work.) An achiral object is one that can be superimposed on its mirror image, as shown by the superimposed flasks in part (b) in Figure 5.9.1.

    Figure 5.9.1: Chiral and Achiral Objects/ (a) Objects that are nonsuperimposable mirror images of each other are chiral, such as the left and the right hand. (b) The unmarked flask is achiral because it can be superimposed on its mirror image.

    Most chiral organic molecules have at least one carbon atom that is bonded to four different groups, as occurs in the bromochlorofluoromethane molecule shown in part (a) in Figure 5.9.2. This carbon, often designated by an asterisk in structural drawings, is called a chiral center or asymmetric carbon atom. If the bromine atom is replaced by another chlorine (part (b) in Figure 5.9.2), the molecule and its mirror image can now be superimposed by simple rotation. Thus the carbon is no longer a chiral center. Asymmetric carbon atoms are found in many naturally occurring molecules, such as lactic acid, which is present in milk and muscles, and nicotine, a component of tobacco. A molecule and its nonsuperimposable mirror image are called enantiomers (from the Greek enantiou, meaning “opposite”).

    When mirrored and rotated 180 degrees, bromochlorofluoromethane cannot be superimposed. When mirrored and rotated 180 degrees, dichlorofluoromethane can be superimposed.

    Figure 5.9.2: Comparison of Chiral and Achiral Molecules. (a) Bromochlorofluoromethane is a chiral molecule whose stereocenter is designated with an asterisk. Rotation of its mirror image does not generate the original structure. To superimpose the mirror images, bonds must be broken and reformed. (b) In contrast, dichlorofluoromethane and its mirror image can be rotated so they are superimposable.

    Exercises

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    What kind of isomers are the following pairs?

    exercise 1.svg

    Answer
    1. Since both structures have the same formula (C6H12) and they have the same connectivity, but are in a different arrangement of the atoms in space, they are conformational isomers.
    2. Since both structures have the same formula (C2H6O) but different connectivity, they are structural isomers.
    3. Since both structures have the same formula (C3H9Br) and the same connectivity but the structure on the left has R stereochemistry and the structure on the right has S stereochemistry, they are stereoisomers called enantiomers.
    Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    What kind of isomers are the following pairs?

    exercise 2.svg

    Answer

    a) Since both structures have the same formula (C2H6O) but different connectivity of where the double bond is, they are structural isomers.

    b) Both structures have the same formula and the same connectivity but the structure on the left has (R,S) stereochemistry and the structure on the right has (S,S) stereochemistry, they are stereoisomers that are diastereomers.

    exercise 2b solution.svg

    c) Both structures and have the same connectivity but their stereochemistry differs so they are stereoisomers. Since the one on the left is (R,S) and the one on the right is (S,R), they are non-super imposable mirror images of each other and enantiomers.

    exercise 2c solution.svg

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    What is the relationship between the following pairs?

    exercise 3.svg

     

     

     

     

     

    c) (R) – 2 chlorohexane & 1-chlorohexane

    d) (2R, 3R) dichlorohexane & (2S, 3R) dichlorohexane

    Answer

    a) Both structures have the same connectivity and same chemical formula and when you rotate the structure on the right you can see that these are the same compound both with (R,S) stereochemistry.

    exercise 3a solution.svg

    b) ) Since both structures have the same formula (C4H8) and the same connectivity they are stereoisomers since they differ in what is known as cis/trans isomerism (covered more in Ch 7).Due to the pi bond between carbons 2 & 3, there is not free rotation between the C2-C3 bond so the structure on the left has the carbon chains on the same side of the double bond (cis) and the structure on the right has the carbon chains on opposite sides of the double bond (trans).

    exercise 3b solution.svg

    c) Looking at the structures below, you can see that they have the same formula (C6H13Cl) and different connectivity, so they are structural isomers.

    exercise 3c solution.svg

    d) Looking at the structures below, you can see that they have the same formula (C6H12Br2) and the same connectivity, but the structure on the left is (R,R) and the structure on the right is (S,R) so since they differ by only one stereocenter, they are stereoisomers that are diastereomers (& epimers in this case).

    exercise 3d solution.svg

    Contributors and Attributions


    5.9: A Review of Isomerism is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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