Solved: How many stereoisomers exist for 1,4-cyclohexanediol

Key concepts

Stereoisomers

Stereoisomers are molecules that have the same chemical formula and bond connectivity, but differ in the arrangement of atoms in space. There are two main types of stereoisomers: enantiomers and diastereomers.

To find out the maximum number of stereoisomers there are for a given compound calculate , here  is the number of stereocenters.

A plane of symmetry

A plane of symmetry, also known as a center of symmetry or a mirror plane, is a plane that bisects a molecule into two identical halves.

In other words, if a molecule is bisected by a plane of symmetry, the atoms and functional groups on one side of the plane will be a mirror image of the atoms and functional groups on the other side of the plane.

This means that the molecule is superimposable on its own mirror image, and therefore, it is achiral. This is in contrast to a molecule that is not bisected by a plane of symmetry and is therefore chiral.

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The given compound is 1,4-cyclohexanediol and it has a plane of symmetry, therefore, it cannot form enantiomers and diastereomers.

It form only conformational isomers, these are cis and trans isomers which is shown below