Configurational isomers with several chiral centres

4 Configurational isomers with several chiral centres 

Configurational isomerism involving one chiral centre provides two different structures, the two enantiomers. If a structure has more than one chiral centre, then there exist two ways of arranging the groups around each chiral centre. Thus, with n chiral centres in a molecule, there will be a maximum number of 2 configurational isomers. Sometimes, as we shall see in Section 3.4.5, there are less. 

Starting with two chiral centres, there should, therefore, be four stereoisomers, and this is nicely exemplified by the natural alkaloid (-)-ephedrine, which is employed as a bronchodilator drug and decongestant. Ephedrine is (li ,25)-2-methylamino-l-phenylpropan-l-ol, so has the structure and stereochemistry shown. 

Now the other three of the possible four stereoisomers are the (15,25), (l/f,2/f), and (15,2/f) versions. These are also shown, and mirror image relationships are emphasized. The (15,2/f) isomer is the mirror image of (—)-ephedrine, which has the (l/f,25) configuration. Therefore, it is the enantiomer of (—)-ephedrine, and can be designated (+)-ephedrine. Note that the enantiomeric form has the opposite configuration at both chiral centres. 

The other two isomers are the (15,25) and (IR,2R) isomers, and these two also share a mirror image relationship, have the opposite configuration at both chiral centres, and are, therefore, a pair of enantiomers. From a structure with two chiral centres, we thus have four stereoisomers that consist of two pairs of enantiomers. Stereoisomers that are not enantiomers we term diastereoisomers, or sometimes diastereomers. Thus, the (15,25) and (1R,2R) isomers are diastereoisomers of the (l/f,25) isomer. Other enantiomeric or diastere-omeric relationships between the various isomers are indicated in the figure. 

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