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Chemistry LibreTexts

Pyramidal Inversion

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A compound that has the general structural formula 1 is expected to exist as a pair of enantiomers.

pyramidalinversion1.png

For example, ethylmethylamine (2a) is expected to exist as a pair of enantiomers.

pyramidalinversion2.png

2a and 2b, however, have no independent existence because they rapidly interconvert. The process by which 2a and 2b interconvert is called pyramidal inversion.

pyramidalinversion3.png


This page titled Pyramidal Inversion 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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