Stereoisomer Question

[niel23]

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1,3 - dimethylcyclohexane has two chiral carbons. How many possible stereoisomers can be written?

There are 2 chrial centers

So 2 ^n = 4 stereoisomers

However, if you were to draw the compound out,

4 scenarios:
One Me wedge, other Me dash
One Me dash, other Me wedge

Both Me wedges
Both Me dashes

Because Meso compounds aren not optically active, that means there are only 2 stereoisomers, correct?

The answer is telling there are 3 and only considered the 2 wedges to be the meso compound.

Thanks!

 

[aldol16]

No, there are still three stereoisomers. All meso compounds are, are the same compound. So they slapped a name on it when you have the same compound appearing twice in drawing stereoisomers - meso compounds. So you can draw three different molecules and so you have three stereoisomers.