Can you have a meta stereocenter?

Question

Imagine a compound such as 1,3-dibromo-1,2,3-trichloropropane. Since the first and third carbons are attached to four different groups, they are both chiral centers. Assuming that both of these stereocenters are mirror images of one another (as in (1$S$-3$R$)-1,3-dibromo-1,2,3-trichloropropane), would the second carbon also be considered a stereocenter? If so, how would you differentiate the two enantiomers around that carbon using IUPAC nomenclature? Also, would such a carbon be optically active?

Answer 1

The C₂ carbon is not a stereocenter as it is bonded to the same 2 groups on C₁ and C₃, namely, CHBrCl.

The only 2 C* are C₁ and C₃ resulting in 2² = 4 stereoisomers. Hence, IUPAC nomenclature will only apply to C₁ and C₃.