(R)-2-Aminobutane (CH₃CH(NH₂)CH₂CH₃) - R or S Configuration
Is (R)-2-Aminobutane R or S?
(R)-2-Aminobutane (CH₃CH(NH₂)CH₂CH₃) has 1 chiral center. A simple chiral amine. Nitrogen (atomic number 7) beats carbon, then ethyl vs methyl resolves by chain length - same logic as haloalkanes but with nitrogen on top.. The configuration is R based on CIP priority rules.
| Formula | CH₃CH(NH₂)CH₂CH₃ |
| Name | (R)-2-Aminobutane |
| Number of Chiral Centers | 1 |
| Configuration(s) | R |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
Chiral Center Analysis
(R)-2-Aminobutane (CH₃CH(NH₂)CH₂CH₃) contains 1 chiral center. A simple chiral amine. Nitrogen (atomic number 7) beats carbon, then ethyl vs methyl resolves by chain length - same logic as haloalkanes but with nitrogen on top.. Each chiral center is analyzed below using CIP (Cahn-Ingold-Prelog) priority rules to determine R or S configuration.
CIP Priority Assignment
The four substituents on the chiral center are ranked by atomic number of the directly attached atom, with ties broken by exploring outward along each branch.
- Priority 1: -NH₂ - Nitrogen directly bonded (atomic number 7) - beats carbon
- Priority 2: -CH₂CH₃ - Ethyl: C→C chain - longer than methyl at second atom level
- Priority 3: -CH₃ - Methyl: C→H only - shorter chain
- Priority 4: H - Hydrogen always lowest (atomic number 1)
R/S Configuration
With the lowest priority group (priority 4) oriented away from the viewer, the remaining three substituents trace a clockwise path from priority 1 to 2 to 3. This gives the R configuration.
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