Epimers are represented by:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Epimers are stereoisomers that differ in configuration at only one stereogenic center. In the given molecule, the stereogenic center is carbon 2, which has two different substituents (OH and H). The only other molecule that can be obtained by changing the configuration at this center is the mirror image of the given molecule (i.e., C2 is swapped with H and OH is swapped with CH2OH), which is compound III. Therefore, compounds II and III are epimers. Compound I cannot be an epimer of the given compound since it differs in configuration at more than one stereocenter. Compounds IV and V do not have a stereogenic center at carbon 2, so they cannot be epimers with the given compound.

Epimers Are Represented By