Definition of Meso Compound



Meso compounds are defined as those compounds which have two sides, right and left side, and they happen to be mirror images of each other. It is the characteristic of meso compounds need to have at least two chiral centers.

 


Example of Meso Compound:

2,3-dichlorobutane has two chiral centres, and four substituents namely a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, and a methyl group are attached with each chiral centre. Both the sides of the 2,3-dichlorobutane can superimpose on each other, so a meso compound is said to be achiral. When polarized light is allowed to pass through the meso compound, no net rotation takes place and hence the achiral compounds are known to be optically inactive.


Meso Compound Structure Example

 

Source: snappygoat.com


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