Chiral carbon atom definition

Chapter 5 Using the Mislow and Siegel definition (/ Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, I06y 3319), I introduce the popular (but often incorrectly defined) term stereocenter and explain the differences between this term and the lUPAC terms chirality center and asymmetric carbon atom (or chiral carbon atom). The term stereocenter is much broader than the more precise term asymmetric carbon atom, and it assumes that one already knows the stereochemical properties of the molecule (to know which bonds will give rise to stereoisomers upon their interchange). Therefore, I have continued to encourage students to identify the (immediately apparent) asymmetric carbon atoms to use as tools in examining a molecule to determine its stereochemistry. 

In the early days following the discovery of chirality it was thought that only molecules of the type CWXYZ, multiply substituted methanes, were important in this respect and it was said that a molecule with an asymmetric carbon atom forms enantiomers. Nowadays, this definition is totally inadequate, for two reasons. The first is that the existence of enantiomers is not confined to molecules with a central carbon atom (it is not even confined to organic molecules), and the second is that, knowing what we do about the various possible elements of symmetry, the phrase asymmetric carbon atom has no real meaning. 

Tertiary carbon atoms along the chain have been defined as asymmetric (22-25, 34-37), pseudoasymmetric (6, 10, 38-40), stereoisomeric centers (30, 31), and diasteric centers (41). The first two terms put the accent on chirality and are linked to the use of models of finite and infinite length, respectively the last two consider only phenomena of stereoisomerism. Note the relationship between these last definitions and Mislow s and Siegel s recent discussion (42), where the two concepts—stereoisomerism (or stereogenicity) and chirality—are clearly distinguished. The tertiary carbon atoms of vinyl polymers are always stereogenic whether they are chinotopic or achirotopic (42) depends on stmctural features and also on the type of model chosen (43). 

Note 4 The tilt direction varies in a random manner from layer to layer in conventional smectic C mesophases. However it can alternate from layer to layer, as in an antiferro-electric chiral smectic C mesophase (see Definition 5.9, Note 7) and in the smectic C mesophase formed by certain liquid crystal dimers with an odd-number of carbon atoms in the spacers. The recommended symbol for this type of mesophase is SmCa. 

The term stereocenter (stereogenic atom) is not consistently defined. The original (Mislow) definition is given here. Some sources simply define it as a synonym for an asymmetric carbon (chiral carbon) or for a chirality center. 

The term meso (Greek, middle ) was used to describe an achiral member of a set of diastereomers, some of which are chiral. The optically inactive isomer seemed to be in the middle between the dextrorotatory and levorotatory isomers. The definition just given ( an achiral compound with chirality centers ) is nearly as complete, and more easily applied, especially when you remember that chirality centers are usually asymmetric carbon atoms. 

The original definition of meso is an achiral compound that has chiral diastereomers. Our working definition of meso is an achiral compound that has chirality centers (usually asymmetric carbon atoms). The working definition is much easier to apply, because we don t have to envision all possible chiral diastereomers of the compound. Still, the working definition is not quite as complete as the original definition. 

The rigorous group theoretical requirement for the existence of chirality in a crystal or a molecule is that no improper rotation elements be present. This definition is often trivialized to require the absence of either a reflection plane or a center of inversion in an object, but these two operations are actually the two simplest improper rotation symmetry elements. It is important to note that a chiral object need not be totally devoid of symmetry (i.e., be asymmetric), but that it merely be diss)nn-metric (i.e., containing no improper rotation symmetry elements). The tetrahedral carbon atom bound to four different substituents may be asymmetric, but the reason it represents a site of chirality is by virtue of dissymmetry. 

When propylene or another prochiral 1-olefin is replaced by a chiral 1-olefin such as 3-methyl-1-pentene the stereochemical analysis becomes more complicated. However, when starting with a pure enantiomer the same definition of an isotactic polymer can be valid as for polypropylene, with the additional restriction that all monomeric units have in the side chain an asymmetric carbon atom of a single absolute configuration (Fig. 3). 

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