The Cahn–Ingold–Prelog priority rules are a set of guidelines used to assign priority to substituents attached to a chiral center in organic molecules. These rules are crucial for determining the configuration (R or S) of chiral centers in stereochemistry. Here's a summary of how the rules work: 1. **Atomic Number**: Compare the atomic numbers of the atoms directly attached to the chiral center. The substituent with the higher atomic number takes precedence.
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The Cahn-Ingold-Prelog priority rules rank substituent paths to assign stereochemical descriptors. Compare the next shell only after a tie; multiple bonds and aromatic paths require the prescribed duplicate-atom treatment. Spatial orientation and priority ranking are separate steps.