R configuration

Definition

R configuration is a designation used in the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) priority rules to describe the spatial arrangement of atoms around a chiral center, indicating that the substituents are arranged in a clockwise direction when viewed from a certain perspective. It stands for "rectus", which is Latin for "right".

Related terms

Chiral Center: A carbon atom bonded to four different groups, creating a non-superimposable mirror image.

S configuration: The opposite of R configuration; it denotes that substituents around a chiral center are arranged in a counterclockwise direction.

Cahn: Ingold-Prelog (CIP) priority rules - A set of rules used to assign absolute configurations (R or S) to chiral centers based on the atomic numbers and connectivity of surrounding atoms