Questions/Stereochemistry/Why are simple chira...
Chirality & SymmetryStereochemistry

Why are simple chiral amines (like N(CH3)(Et)(Pr)N(CH_3)(Et)(Pr) ) not optically active at room temperature?

Expert Answer

Due to rapid Pyramidal Inversion (Nitrogen flipping). The low energy barrier ( 25 kJ/mol\approx 25 \text{ kJ/mol} ) causes rapid interconversion of enantiomers.

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