Ochem, short for "Organic Chemistry", is a branch of chemistry that deals with the study of carbon-containing compounds and their properties, structures, reactions, and synthesis.
R and S are the two possible configurations for chiral molecules in Ochem. R stands for rectus (meaning "right" in Latin) and S stands for sinister (meaning "left" in Latin).
The R or S designation is determined by the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) rules, which assign priorities to the substituents attached to a chiral carbon based on the atomic number of the atoms directly attached to the carbon. The molecule is then viewed so that the lowest priority substituent is pointing away from the observer, and the remaining three substituents are arranged in order of decreasing priority. If the order is clockwise, the molecule is designated as R. If the order is counterclockwise, the molecule is designated as S.
The R or S designation is crucial in Ochem as it determines the stereoisomeric relationship between two molecules. This information is important in predicting and understanding the properties and reactions of the molecule, as well as in drug development and synthesis.
No, a molecule can only have one R or S designation. This is because the CIP rules prioritize the substituents attached to a chiral carbon, resulting in a unique arrangement of the substituents. However, a molecule may have multiple chiral centers, each with its own R or S designation.