Stereoisomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula and bonding arrangement; however, they differ in how their atoms are positioned in 3-dimensional space (spatial orientation) with respect to each other.
These molecules, which differ in orientation while still having the same molecular formula, are also known as spatial isomers.
Dihedral Angle | Bond Angle | |
|---|---|---|
Definition |
Learning Objective: To learn through an example how a reaction outcome depends on the conformation of the reactant.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Learning Objective: To study the role of solvents in conformational isomerism.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Learning Objective: To understand the conformations molecules containing lone pair(s) mostly adopt.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Learning Objective: To study the importance of conformational analysis in organic chemistry.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Chapter: Stereochemistry
Sub-topic: Conformational Isomerism
Learning Objective: To study the various stabilizing and destabilizing interactions affecting the stability of conformations.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Learning Objective: To study the various terminologies for single-bond and double-bond-containing molecular conformations.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Learning Objective: To study the common names of open-chain and closed-chain conformations and their stability.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Learning Objective: To learn the various methods used to draw conformational isomers.
Skill Level - Beginner
Prerequisite:
Chapter: Stereochemistry
Learning Objective: To get familiar with conformational isomerism, what it means, how it occurs, and also differs from other forms of isomerism.
Skill Level - Beginner
Prerequisites:
A dihedral angle is obtained when two planes pass through three atoms and two bonds, of which one bond is common to both planes.
In the below example, plane 1 passes through X-C-C, containing three atoms and two bonds. Similarly, the plane 2 passes through C-C-Y. The separation between the two planes or the angle of intersection is denoted using a dihedral angle (ϴ) in degrees (o).
The different spatial arrangements organic molecules adopt due to the rotation of the single bond are called conformations. A specific conformation is called a conformer or conformational isomer.
Many such conformational isomers are undoubtedly interconvertible by single bond rotations. So, these isomers are simply different rotational (or structural) arrangements of the same molecule.