Report 78 09 Exhaustive Generation of Stanford for Structure Elucidation . James G. Raymond E. Dennis H. Smith 111

An algorithm and its implementation as a computer program is described which for the first time permits the enumeration and construction of all the distinct stereoisomers possible which are consistent with a given empirical formula. The algorithm finds the stereocenters in a chemical structure, takes full account of any symmetry and produces the stereoisomers with cis/trans and R/C designations along with a canonical (unique) name. Examples of its use and a discussion of potential applications are given.