Identifing Chiral Centers

Determining the R/S Stereo Configuration of Chiral Centers

We refer to our hands as right and left hands.   Likewise we need to be able to describe the handedness of chiral centers.  We use the R/S system.

Identifying the chiral carbons or chiral centers.

• These are the carbons that have four different substituents on them.
• Can you find all 8 chiral centers in cholesterol shown below.

Cholesterol