Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 5
R and S configurations are found by ranking substituents on a chiral carbon. This is relatively straight-forward when substituents contain 1-3 atoms.
This gets more confusing when the substituents are long, complex, and contain many of the same atoms. This orgo tutorial video shows you how to approach lengthy and complex substituents so that you can quickly and easily determine R and S configurations.
(Watch on YouTube: Substituents. Click cc on bottom right for video transcription.)
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This is Video 5 in the Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series. Click HERE for the entire series.
Ready to test your stereochemistry skills? Try my FREE Chirality/Stereochemistry Practice Quiz and follow along with the Stereochemistry Cheat Sheet
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What happened to video #4 when group 4 is in the plane of the page?? Thats the one I have the most trouble with?!
best explanation for reversing the direction when #4 is forward !
Thanks Anna! Glad to help
what if there is a triple bond?
Triple bonds count like 3 carbon atoms, 1 per bond
Hello Leah,
I have a very important question! What if the CH3 would be “fat-lined”, meaning looking straight at us! Would the chirality then turn from R to S like it does when a H is looking directly at us, or does it stay how it is and that rule only applies to H.
Help would be very much needed!
A.B. See the video explaining how to rank when group #4 is forward