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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3st157

A Newman projection of 2,3-dibromobutane, viewed along C2 (front) to C3 (rear), shows: front carbon C2 with at 12 o'clock, Br at 4 o'clock, H at 8 o'clock; rear carbon C3 with at 6 o'clock, Br at 10 o'clock, H at 2 o'clock. The compound is

  1. Ameso-(2S,3R)-2,3-dibromobutane, optically inactive
  2. B(2R,3R)-2,3-dibromobutane, optically active
  3. C(2S,3S)-2,3-dibromobutane, optically active
  4. Dracemic mixture of (2R,3R) and (2S,3S)

Answer: A

The conformation is staggered with the methyls anti (12 and 6 o'clock) and the bromines anti (4 and 10 o'clock). With CIP priorities Br > C > > H, coordinate analysis gives C2 = S and C3 = R. A (2S,3R) compound is meso, with a centre of inversion in this anti conformation, hence optically inactive.
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