Question

how to find absolute configuration of optically active compound?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Polarimeter give the configuration of a molecule as a whole. But if the molecule contain more than two stereo centers it is difficult to find the configuration of each stereo centers using polarimeter. If we are using single crystal x-ray analysis, depending on the position of the detector of the x-ray instrument , the configuration may change. That is it give only relative stereo chemistry of each stereo center. If we keep the molecule in one direction it will give one result, keeping in opposite direction give just mirror image of the earlier one. So we can't fix which is the actual one. So it is not the absolute configuration.