CEM 221
Organic Chemistry 1

Fischer Projections

Fischer projections are explained in your text; briefly, they represent a chiral center as a pair of crossed lines. The horizontal arms of the cross are always wedges (coming out of the page); the vertical arms are always dashes (going back into the page).

Here's a brief explanation, with 3D molecular models for comparison.

The best way to learn Fischer projections is to practice with them. Here are two practice resources:

• J. Philip Bays' large database of organic stereochemistry exercises at St Mary's College
• Some exercises of my own, comparing Fischer projections to 3-D structures