Stereoisomer introduction
Consitutional isomers are compounds that
Stereoisomers are compounds that
Conformational stereoisomers can be interconverted by rotation about single bonds.
Configurational stereoisomers can only be inter-converted by breaking and re-forming bonds
Cis-trans isomers are one type of configurational stereoisomer.
Enantiomers are another type of configurational stereoisomer. Compounds that can exist as enantiomers have non-superimposable mirror images due to being asymmetric (having no symmetry planes or centres).
All stereoisomers that are not enantiomers of one another are referred to as diastereomers.
- have the same molecular formula
- have a different atom-to-atom bonding sequence.
Stereoisomers are compounds that
- have the same molecular formula
- have the same atom-to-atom bonding sequence
- have a different arrangement of the atoms in space
Conformational stereoisomers can be interconverted by rotation about single bonds.
Configurational stereoisomers can only be inter-converted by breaking and re-forming bonds
Cis-trans isomers are one type of configurational stereoisomer.
 |  |
| trans-but-2-ene | cis-but-2-ene |
Enantiomers are another type of configurational stereoisomer. Compounds that can exist as enantiomers have non-superimposable mirror images due to being asymmetric (having no symmetry planes or centres).
All stereoisomers that are not enantiomers of one another are referred to as diastereomers.
Both the cis-trans configurational isomers AND the conformational stereoisomers above are examples of diastereomers.