I'm having troubles with this specific example of determining the absolute configuration of (the dots are just placeholders):
H2N
.,.,|
H-C-COOH
.,.,|
....COOEt
because none of the bonds are stereochemically determined (I'm guessing it's some sort of a Fischer transformation). Obviously, the priority goes as such: NH2 > COOEt > COOH > H and the H-atom bonded to the chiral C-atom is "in way" between H2N and COOEt and the molecule above would be S-oriented, which is false. My question here is, where am I supposed to put the H-atom? Probably out of the plane, but I can't just go around switching the sterical position of atoms, or can I?