(R, S)-1, 3-Pentanediol or meso-1, 3-Dihydroxypentane

This compound (right panel below) is the same substance as the one at the top of the previous page (left panel below). It is in a different conformation, formed by rotation about the C₂ - C₃ C-C bond (counting from the rightmost carbon) by 120^o of the structure in the left panel.. This conformation, while chiral, is in equal concentration with its mirror image formed by rotation about the C₃ - C₄ bond by 120^o in the conformation in the left panel. Although the conformation in the right panel is chiral it is one component of a racemate. NO OPTICAL ACTIVITY.

Click here for help with R and S configuration.