How to calculate the number of stereoisomers of inositol homologs

Abstract

It is well known that there are nine stereoisomers of inositol that are composed of seven achiral compounds with a pair of enantiomers. However, there is no report regarding larger inositol homologs, contiguously substituted cycloalkane polyols; therefore, the numbers of stereoisomers of such compounds are unknown. This study provides a simple method to calculate the number of stereoisomers of inositol homologs with any carbon number. The established formulae may be useful in attracting novice students to the field of organic chemistry.