How do you identify meso compounds?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 29, 2016

A #"meso"# is an #RS# compound; so you have to assign the stereocentres. Obviously, the molecule has to be symmetric about the 2 stereocentres.

Explanation:

An example of a #meso# compound is #RS#-2,3-butanediol. Note that such a formula could give rise to #R,R# and #S,S# stereoisomers.

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