[ScorchedEarth87]

Dimethylcyclohexane is reacted with chlorine. The reaction product is carefully distilled.

1.How many compounds formed?

I found 2 dichlorides, enatiomers of each other, making a racemic mixture.

2. How many fractions in distillation?

3. How many optically active fractions in distillation?

I have no idea how to do numbers 2 and 3. Can anyone help me? Thanks.

[Jim B]

Enantiomers do not separate by distillation.  Diastereomers can, but I don't fancy it much.  If the reaction only produces optical isomers then distillation will just produce a nice clean sample of racemate.

Hence:

2. One

3. None (Given that the a_D of a racemate is 0)

[ScorchedEarth87]

thank you very much