Which of the following statements best describes the structural relationship between cis-1,2-dibromocyclopropane and trans-1,2-dibromocyclopropane?
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Correct Answer: B. The two compounds can be separated by ordinary physical chemical separation methods
Cis and trans-1,2-dibromocyclopropane (pictured below) share a diastereomeric relationship; that is, the molecules are stereoisomers that are not enantiomers. Diastereomerism occurs when two or more stereoisomers (i.e. same connectivities) of a compound have different configurations at one or more (but not all) of the equivalent stereocenters and are not mirror images of each other. Accordingly, diastereomers are distinct molecules with different chemical properties, and can be separated by ordinary physical means. Recall that enantiomers are mirror images of each other and are identical in all physical aspects except for their direction of rotation of plane polarized light.
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