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In the picture that I have uploaded, I have read that the given compound is chiral.

But on drawing the sawhorse structures (for better visualisation), I feel like the compound is symmetric about a plane that could bisect both OH and Cl.

What is it that I'm thinking incorrectly?

3‐chlorobutan‐2‐ol

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    $\begingroup$ OH isn't a single point, to begin with, and who said the projection is eclipsed and not staggered (MolView)? $\endgroup$
    – andselisk ♦
    May 26, 2020 at 19:49
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    $\begingroup$ Since when methyl groups are identical with hydrogen atoms? $\endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    May 26, 2020 at 20:04
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    $\begingroup$ What you call a symmetry plane is not a symmetry plane. For example the H atoms above the plane are transformed into something else, namely CH3 by your "planar" symmetry. They should have been transformed into H atoms ! $\endgroup$
    – Maurice
    May 26, 2020 at 20:06
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    $\begingroup$ @Mithoron That's the elephant in the room I totally missed and started with nitpicking. Nicely noticed. Maybe you could post a brief answer? $\endgroup$
    – andselisk ♦
    May 26, 2020 at 20:07

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Originally, both of us, andselisk and I, thought you are taking about a plain which goes through all four groups ($\ce{H-H-Cl-OH}$ squire). It is a forbidden plane when it come to symmetry of a compound, if it had been the case. Fortunately it is not the case. We later realized after Mithoron's comment that the plane you are talking about actually goes through $\ce{C^*-C^*-Cl-OH}$ squire instead (asterisks indicate chiral $\ce{C}$s). That is an allowed plane for symmetry concern. Yet again, you are wrong about it's been a plane of symmetry. For your convenience, I draw all four possible isomers of 3‐chlorobutan‐2‐ol and relevant sawhorse structures showing the plane of your concern:

Stereoisomers of 3‐chlorobutan‐2‐ol

I tried to put the plane as it is a mirror on a plane where $\ce{C^*-C^*-Cl-OH}$ squire overlap. The particular stereoisomer representing both Fischer projection and sawhorse structure (with your 'plane of symmetry') is $(2R,3S)$-3‐chlorobutan‐2‐ol, so I drew that particular isomer first. Now look at my sawhorse structure below that particular structure. The $\ce{C^*-C^*-Cl-OH}$ squire is on the plane so that those groups and atoms do not count on symmetry. The only countable groups are two methyl groups and two hydrogen residues. If you consider the plane as a mirror (which dissects each $\ce{H-C^*-CH3}$ angle), you would see both $\ce{CH3}$-groups are in the front of the mirror and hydrogen residues are inside of the mirror (resembling mirror images). As a result, we can conclude that the mirror is not a plane of symmetry because each $\ce{H}$ atom can't be the mirror image of adjacent $\ce{CH3}$ group. Therefore, both carbon atoms marked with $\color{red}{red}$ $\color{green}{green}$ circles are chiral centers. As a result, there are 4 stereoisomers for 3‐chlorobutan‐2‐ol: $(2R,3S)$-, $(2S,3R)$-, $(2R,3R)$-, and $(2S,3S)$- where first two and last two isomers are enanthiomers of each other (as indicated in the diagram).

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you so much i get it now. I have just another doubt. Can you add the sawhorse diagram of meso and chiral forms of tartaric acid too? Only if you are okay with it $\endgroup$
    – Vamsi Krishna
    May 27, 2020 at 5:56
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    $\begingroup$ Check here. If you don't understand, let meknow or post as a new question, but make sure to show your work. $\endgroup$
    – Mathew Mahindaratne
    May 27, 2020 at 7:06

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