A reaction pathway beginning with 1-bromopentane is shown below - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2021 - Paper 1

To construct an isomer of 1-bromopentane with a chiral carbon, consider the structure of 2-bromopentane:

1. Identify the Carbon Chain: Start with a five-carbon chain (pentane).

2. Introduce the Bromine Atom: Place the bromine atom on the second carbon of the chain.

3. Modify the Structure to Create Chirality: To ensure chirality, add a methyl group (-CH₃) to the third carbon, resulting in 2-bromo-3-methylbutane.

The resulting structure is:

       Br
        |
    CH₃-C-CH₂-CH₃
        |  
        H 

Circle the Chiral Carbon: Circle the carbon atom to which the bromine is attached as this is the chiral center.

This structure satisfies the requirement of having a chiral carbon and is a valid isomer of 1-bromopentane.