NEET levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 1 of 3st263
The compound shown is butane-2,3-diol drawn without stereochemistry. Counting configurational isomers (enantiomers and diastereomers together), the number of stereoisomers is
A2
B3
C4
D1
Answer: B
Butane-2,3-diol has two stereocentres with identical substituent sets, so the 22=4 combinations reduce: (2R,3R) and (2S,3S) are a pair of enantiomers, while (2R,3S) and (2S,3R) are the same meso compound. Total stereoisomers: 2+1=3.