What is the difference between optical activity/polarimetry vs. (R)/(S) configurations?  (+) seems to be clockwise, while (-) seems to be counterclockwise.  (R) seems to be clockwise when the lowest priority group is facing the back, while (S) seems to be counterclockwise. Does (R) match up with (+) and (S) match up with (-)? If not, what is the difference? Is it that (R) and (S) are just how we determine the priorities in space while (+) and (-) can be determined via labaratory experiments? How can (R)(-) or (S)(+) exist then? Would this show that the spatial arrangement is incorrect in comparison with what the polarimeter shows?

Organic Chemistry: A Guided Inquiry
2nd Edition
ISBN:9780618974122
Author:Andrei Straumanis
Publisher:Andrei Straumanis
Chapter12: Chirality
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 11CTQ
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What is the difference between optical activity/polarimetry vs. (R)/(S) configurations? 

(+) seems to be clockwise, while (-) seems to be counterclockwise. 

(R) seems to be clockwise when the lowest priority group is facing the back, while (S) seems to be counterclockwise.

Does (R) match up with (+) and (S) match up with (-)? If not, what is the difference? Is it that (R) and (S) are just how we determine the priorities in space while (+) and (-) can be determined via labaratory experiments?

How can (R)(-) or (S)(+) exist then? Would this show that the spatial arrangement is incorrect in comparison with what the polarimeter shows?

Expert Solution
Step 1

The difference between optical rotation or say optical activity and the absolute configuration of a compound is needed to be discussed. 

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