Pure R, R-hydrobenzoin (side product of meso-hydrobenzoin) has a melting point of 148°C. a) What do you expect the melting point of pure S, S-hydrobenzoin (another side product of meso-hydrobenzoin) to be? b) Do you expect the racemic mixtures of these enantiomers to have the same or different melting points as the pure enantiomers?

Explanation:

(a) melting point of S,S-hydrobenzoin should be 140°C. Since S,S-hydrobezoin and R,R-hydrobenzoin are enantiomeric pair so that their melting point and boilong point should be same.

(b) different melting point,

Racemic mixture must have different melting point in comparison to the pure enantiomers.

considering a racemic mixture, individual enantiometer possesses a greater affinity for its kind of molecules than for those of the other enantiometer