BRAINCAKERacemates from Nucleophilic Addition
The carbonyl group, C=O, is planar. The carbonyl carbon and the three atoms bonded to it lie in one plane, in a trigonal planar arrangement with bond angles of about 120°.
In nucleophilic addition, a nucleophile such as CN− attacks the δ+ carbonyl carbon. Because the group is flat, the nucleophile can attack from either side of the plane (from above or below), and each side is equally likely.
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Key terms in this lesson
- chiral centre
- A carbon atom bonded to four different atoms or groups, which can give rise to optical isomerism.
- racemic mixture
- A mixture containing equal amounts of the two enantiomers of a chiral compound, which has no overall effect on plane-polarised light.
More in Optical Isomerism
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