Question

Racemic $3$ methyl hexane yields all possible monochloro derivatives when allowed to react with $C{l}_2$ in a radical chain reaction How many different stereoisomers of $2-chloro-3-methylhexane$ are going to be found in the mixture of the product?

• A. $2$
• B. $3$
• C. $4$
• D. $5$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $4$

Stereoisomerism is due to chiral carbons present in a molecule. The total number of hypothetically possible stereoisomers will not exceed $2^n$, where $n$ is the number of tetrahedral stereocenters (Chiral carbon).

$2-chloro-3-methylhexane$ has 2 chiral carbons and therefore a maximum of $4$ stereoisomers.