Final answer:
A meso compound contains multiple stereogenic centers but remains achiral due to its intrinsic plane of symmetry that allows mirror-image halves to overlap, despite what is typically expected with compounds that have chiral centers.
Step-by-step explanation:
A meso compound contains multiple stereogenic centers but is nevertheless achiral because it possesses reflection symmetry. A meso compound has a plane of symmetry that divides it into two mirror-image halves, making the compound achiral despite the presence of multiple chiral centers.
In chemistry, the presence of chiral centers typically makes a compound chiral, meaning it does not superimpose on its mirror image. However, meso compounds are an exception to this rule because the plane of symmetry allows for the overlap of mirror images.
Examples include certain cyclic compounds, like cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane, which have stereocenters but still have a mesostructure due to symmetry.