0

Guest

Courses New

can i know the shortcut formula to find the isomers of a compound as total no. of stereoisomers or no. of structural isomers or no. of optical isomers in a compound given?

can i know the shortcut formula to find the isomers of a compound as total no. of stereoisomers or no. of structural isomers or no. of optical isomers in a compound given?

Grade:

6 Answers

Saurabh Gupta
34 Points
10 years ago

You have no formula to calculate number of constitutional isomers. You have to make all possibilities and count,

 

But you have a formula to calculate no. of stereoisomers.

The general formula for calculating stereoisomer is: 2n, where n is the number of chial centers.

A couple of things to keep in mind:
1. Stereoisomers are compounds with the same chemical formula but different spatial arrangement.

2. And chiral centers are carbons that are bonded to 4 different groups.

For example, if we use glucose as our starting compound, the number of chiral carbons that a glucose molecule possesses is 4.
Out of the 6 carbons, the 4 carbons in the middle are chiral. That is to say, the four carbons in the middle are bonded to 4 different groups. If we think about it, the OH groups on each of the four carbons can be either on the left or the right side of the carbon (for Fischer projected images). Thus, since each of the 4 OH groups have two possible sides, the number of stereoisomers is 24, or 16.

 

This is the simplest formula.

But cannot be used in cases of molecular symmetry.

All formulas are stated below:-

a) When the molecule is unsymmetrical and contains ''n '' chiral carbon atoms, Total no. of stereoisomers = 2n


b) When the molecule is unsymmetrical and has even number of stereogenic centres or chiral carbon atoms,

Total no. of stereoisomers = No. of optical isomers + No. of meso forms = 2(n-1) + 2(n/2-1)


c) When the molecule is symmetrical and has odd no. of stereogenic centres

Total no. of stereoisomers = [ 2(n-1)-2(n/2-1/2)] + 2(n/2-1/2)]The formula for determining the number of stereoisomers is as follows:

a) When the molecule is unsymmetrical and contains ''n '' chiral carbon atoms, Total no. of stereoisomers = 2n


b) When the molecule is unsymmetrical and has even number of stereogenic centres or chiral carbon atoms,

Total no. of stereoisomers = No. of optical isomers + No. of meso forms = 2(n-1) + 2(n/2-1)


c) When the molecule is symmetrical and has odd no. of stereogenic centres

Total no. of stereoisomers = [ 2(n-1)-2(n/2-1/2)] + 2(n/2-1/2)]

Srimantan mitra
21 Points
7 years ago
There is no shortcut method in case of groups like hydroxy,ether,aldehyde,ketone,carboxy,acid chloride,anhydride,cyanides etc.In that case we have to find out the no of isomers by structural formula.In stereoisomerism and optical isomerism it had a definite formula.
Mrig
24 Points
6 years ago
Stereoisomers can be calculated by the following methods a) When the molecule has no symmetry then no. of stereoisomers is 2^n
Abhishek
14 Points
6 years ago
There is no formula for structural isomers but you can calculate sterioisomers by the following formula.. a) for geometrical isomers just calculate the number of double bonds and apply this formula.. When no. Of double bonds is even then 2^2.when it is odd then it is 2^n-1/2
Junaid khan
13 Points
5 years ago
There is formula for Alkynes also....For odd no alkyne 2^n-2nFor even no alkyne 2^n-(2n-1)............. .....................................If you want more answers contact 03360156397
Ajeet Tiwari
askIITians Faculty 86 Points
3 years ago
hello students

There isn't any formula for structural isomers. But there are formulas for stereo isomers. If there are n chiral carbons in a molecule, then the following two cases may arise.

case 1: The ends of the molecule are asymmetric. In this case the number of structural isomers are2n2nand all of them are optically active.

case2: The ends of the molecule is symmetric. Following two cases may arise

case 2a. n is even. In this case number of optically active form=2^(n−1) Number of meso isomers is2^(0.5n−1) and the total number of stereo isomer is the summation of these two.

case 2b. n is odd. In this case total number of stereo isomer is2^(n−1).Number of meso isomers is2^(0.5n−0.5)2(0.5n−0.5)and the number of optically active forms is the difference of these two

Hope it helps
Thnakyou and regards

Think You Can Provide A Better Answer ?

Other Related Questions on Organic Chemistry

View all Questions »

ASK QUESTION

Get your questions answered by the expert for free

Answer and earn gift vouchers

Win Gift vouchers upto Rs 500/-

View courses by askIITians

Design classes One-on-One in your own way with Top IITians/Medical Professionals

Click Here Know More

Complete Self Study Package designed by Industry Leading Experts

Click Here Know More

Live 1-1 coding classes to unleash the Creator in your Child

Click Here Know More

a Complete All-in-One Study package Fully Loaded inside a Tablet!

Click Here Know More