Question

The given structure is 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorocyclobutane. The wedges and dashes indicate the stereochemistry of the chlorine atoms:

• Chlorine on C1 is above the plane (wedge).
• Chlorine on C2 is below the plane (dash).
• Chlorine on C3 is above the plane (wedge).
• Chlorine on C4 is below the plane (dash).

Answer 1

Meso compound

Answer 2

The molecule shown is all-trans-1,2,3,4-tetrachlorocyclobutane. Each carbon atom is a chiral center. The molecule possesses a center of inversion, which makes it achiral despite having chiral centers. Therefore, it is a meso compound.