Chemistry · Isomerism: structural and stereoisomerism

An enantiomerically pure acid is treated with a racemic mixture of an alcohol ha

An enantiomerically pure acid is treated with a racemic mixture of an alcohol having one chiral carbon. The ester formed will be:

  • A. optically active mixture
  • B. pure enantiomer
  • C. meso compound
  • D. racemic mixture

Step-by-step solution

The enantiomerically pure acid provides one fixed chiral center. The racemic alcohol provides equal amounts of two enantiomers, leading to two diastereomeric esters. These diastereomers have different optical rotations and do not cancel, so the mixture is optically active.
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