Pre-lecture Reading Assignment: Cyclic Conformers

Quick Intro

Cyclic alkanes have different types of conformers than acyclic alkanes. We will focus on 6-membered rings (cyclohexanes) and their chair conformations. You will need a phyiscal model kit in class to help understand these three-dimensional structures and translate them into two -dimensional drawings.

 

Objectives

• Identify the types of strain present in different cycloalkanes.
• Draw both chair conformers for cyclohexane.
• Draw chair conformers for substituted cyclohexane derivatives.
• Perform "chair flips" for cyclohexan derivatives.
• Distinguish between relative energies for different conformers of cyclohexane derivatives and explain the cause of the energy difference.

 

Associated Reading

• Smith 3rd ed: Ch 4.11-4.13
• Smith 4th ed: Ch 4.11-4.13
• Smith 5th ed: Ch 4.11-4.13
• Smith 6th ed: Ch 4.11-4.13

 

Your Tasks

Before Class

• Complete assigned reading.
• Get the worksheet for the lecture.

After Class

• Work on more problems.
• Go to a discussion section and/or office hours.
• Review any areas that you struggled with on in-class activities.