5. Chirality

Citrate synthase, one of the enzymes in the series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions known as the citric acid cycle, catalyzes the synthesis of citric acid from oxaloacetic acid and acetyl-CoA. If the synthesis is carried out with acetyl-CoA that contains radioactive carbon (14C) in the indicated position, the isomer shown here is obtained.

b. If the acetyl-CoA used in the synthesis contains 12C instead of 14C, will the product of the reaction be chiral or achiral?

Make a model and draw a three-dimensional structure for each compound. Then draw the mirror image of your original structure and determine whether the mirror image is the same compound. Label each structure as being chiral or achiral, and label pairs of enantiomers.

(c) cis- and trans-1,3-dimethylcyclobutane

(d) 2-bromobutane

Classify the following objects and molecules as chiral or achiral.

(l)

Identify the following molecules as chiral or achiral. If chiral, draw the nonsuperimposable mirror image and verify its nonsuperimposability.

(c)

Which of the following statements best describes chirality in organic molecules?

Which of the following methods can be used to determine the chirality of a molecule?

Which of the following statements about chirality in organic molecules is false?

Which of the following statements correctly describes chirality in organic molecules?