Question 31.21 - Organic Chemistry

Question

Draw all possible constitutional isomers of a triacylglycerol formed from one mole each of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. Locate the tetrahedral stereogenic centers in each constitutional isomer.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Answer

Step 1: Constitutional isomers

Constitutional isomers are the ones that have an identical atom’s chemical proportions, but they look different because of the different connectivity of bonds.

If all the atoms in isomers and the degree of unsaturation are the same, they are constitutional isomers.

Step 2: Triacylglycerol formed from one mole each of palmitic acid, oleic, and linoleic acid.

Each compound contains one tetrahedral stereogenic center shown by drawing a circle. Therefore, there are two enantiomers possible, and the configuration of all C-C double bonds is Z.

Constitutional isomers of triacylglycerol