Here is an post-mortem analysis / "how to" for the MT. The questions are split by the sections. At the start of each section are a few suggestions of what to look for or how to tackle the question type.
Qu1: AB
Reaction is the hydrogenation
of either alkene or alkynes
or aromatics. The reactivity towards reduction is determined by the strength
of the pi bonds so alkynes reduce more rapidly than alkenes. Aromatic C=C reduce
more slowly than alkene C=C due to the aromatic stabilisation. So iii
> ii > i.
Qu2: D
Carbocation
stability.... due to (a) alkyl groups, which are weak electrons donors and
(b) resonance with pi bonds. These effects add stability due to charge delocalisation.
i is secondary. ii
is secondary and can be stablised by the lone pairs on the oxygen (note that
the resonance contributor has complete octets on both C and O) and iii
is an allylic cation, with primary and secondary contributors. This means
that the simple secondary cation in i is the least stable of the three.
The lone pair donation in ii is better than the bonded pair donation
in iii, hence ii > iii > i.
Qu3: B
All the bonds are CC bonds, but the hybridisation of the two C is changing.
In i we have an sp3 : sp2 C. In ii
we have a standard CC double bond (134 pm). In iii both C are sp2, but we are looking at a
C-C
between two C=C in a conjugated diene (about 146 pm).....so overall i
> iii > ii.
Qu4: A
Heats of reaction such as heats of hydrogenation can be used to measure the
relative stability of systems. In this case we are looking at polyenes and the
degree of substitution. i and ii are both conjugated dienes whereas
iii is an isolated diene so i and ii are more stable than
iii. The difference between i and ii is that i has
two trisubstituted C=C while ii has a tri- and a disubstituted C=C, so
i is more stable than ii. The more stable system will have
the least -ve heat of hydrogenation (all react to give 1,2-dimethylcyclohexane).
Therefore we get i > ii > iii in terms of heats of hydrogenation.
Qu5: AB
Reaction is the Diels-Alder
reaction and we are looking at the dienophiles reacting with cyclopentadiene....
The reactivity increases in the normal Diels-Alder reaction with electron withdrawing
groups on the dienophile. i has
an alkyl group (a weak electron donor), ii has an electron withdrawing carbonyl in
the form of an ester and iii has two electron withdrawing carbonyl groups
in the form of a cyclic anhydride. Therefore the reactivity is iii > ii > i.
Qu6: C
All about enantiomeric excess and optical rotation. For i based on
the masses of the two enantiomers drawn, the e.e. is 50% (use (1.5 - 0.5)/(1.5
+ 0.5)). For ii a little more complex, but work out the e.e. via the
rotation... [a]D (sample) = a
/ cl = +1.613 / (1.27/10) = 12.7. Therefore e.e. = 100%. And for iii
a racemic mixture has an e.e. of 0 (by definition). So ii > i
> iii.
Qu7: A
Reaction
is about additions of HX to an alkene. This gives the Markovnikov product
via the most stable carbocation intermediate. The rate of the reaction
is controlled by the formation of the carbocation and the variable here is the
acid. The stronger the acid the faster the rate of carbocation formation. In
terms of acidity HBr > HCl > CH3CO2H (acidity increases down a group in
the periodic table and comparing HX acids to a simple carboxylic acids (pKas
are -8, -7 and 5 respectively). So i
> ii > iii
Qu8: B
The question is about additions
of HCl to alkenes and alkynes.
The rate of the reaction is controlled by the formation of the carbocation and
the variable here is the carbocation structure. The more stable the carbocation
then the faster the rate of carbocation formation : carbocation
stability. i gives a tertiary carbocation and iii gives a
secondary carbocation. The alkyne ii would require the formation of an
unfavourable vinyl cation and therefore goes via a statistically slower termolecular
reaction. So i > iii > ii
Qu9: AB
The question relates to laboratory material and the Lucas
test for alcohols which is really an SN1
type reaction and it thus controlled by carbocation
stability. The implication is that the tertiary alcohol reacts faster than
the secondary alcohol which in turn reacts faster than the primary alcohol so
iii > ii > i.
Qu10: B
Bond strength can be determined by analysis of the components. We have an
aromatic CH (sp2 C) and two aliphatic CH (sp3 C). The aromatic CH is shorter
and therefore stronger than the sp3CH bonds due to the increased s character
in the sp2 hybrid compared to the sp3 hybrid. When we compare the sp3 CH bonds,
we can use the fact that ii is secondary and iii is primary and
that secondary CH are weaker than primary. We can also think about radical halogenation
(which preferentially reacts with the weaker CH bonds) and that ii is
also benzylic. Answer in terms of bond strength :
i > iii > ii
Qu11: D
This question brings some laboratory aspects in with lectures...Working forwards......
the bromobenzene reacts with the Mg to form a Grignard
reagent which then reacts in an SN2 fashion with the epoxide, i.e. at the
least substituted end, followed by a normal dilute acid work up to give an alcohol.
Note that the -OH group ends up on the C adjacent to the C attacked by the Nu
in epoxide reactions. In this case the product is the secondary alcohol, D.
Qu12: D
Working backwards.... look at the product and the third set of reagents
: it looks like we have reduced an alkene or alkyne. Benzyl bromide is C6H5CH2Br
- this must have undergone a substitution
reaction to make a new C-C bond and judging by the first set of reagents
it was with a acetylide so the answer must be a terminal
alkyne... D or E.... but E has too many C atoms.
Qu13: A
Working backwards.... look at the product (note it's a substituted cyclohexane
with quite specific stereochemistry... may be a Diels-Alder
reaction? The other starting material hints at this too as it is a common
dienophile). The second set of reagents indicate the catalytic
hydrogenation reduction of alkenes or alkynes, so that explains where the
C=C from the cyclohexene has gone. Once you have the cyclohexene, push the curly
arrows backwards to reveal the diene. Only dienes A and B make
sense. C can't be s-cis and D would put the methyl groups in the wrong
location and E has too many C atoms. To decide on A or B
then look at the stereochemistry, since the two methyl groups are on the face
side in the product, the stereochemistry of the two double bonds in the diene
must be the same i.e. A.
Qu14: E
Working forwards....the first reaction is the catalytic
hydrogenation reduction of alkyne to an alkene. This is followed by the
addition of hydrogen
bromide to the alkene. A is the Markovnikov
product of an addition of HBr
to an alkyne not an alkene, and B is the anti-Markovnikov
product. C is the
product of addition
of one equiv. of Br2 to an alkyne and D
the addition
of Br2 to an alkene, so E is the correct answer.
Qu15: E
Working forwards....the first reaction is the anti-Markovnikov
addition of hydrogen
bromide to the alkene. Now we bring in some laboratory aspects.. the alkyl
bromide reacts with the Mg to form a Grignard
reagent which is then reacted with the carbon dioxide followed by a dilute
acid work-up.... this will give a carboxylic acid with one more carbon than
the original alkyl bromide. This limits the choices to A or E
but A would result from the bromide formed by Markovnikov
addition to
the alkene, so E is the correct answer.
Qu16: D
Working forwards....the reaction is a radical halogenation... the conditions
imply of an sp3C-H bond. In this case, the weakest bonds and therefore the preference
will be for the allylic
position, hence D.
Qu17: A
Working forwards.... look at the starting material and the first set
of reagents : preparation of a terminal acetylide followed by a substitution
reaction to make a new C-C ...This is followed by the hydration
of the alkyne to give a ketone (which means A or B). The C=O
will be formed nearest to the phenyl ring due to the ability of the ring to
help stabilise the positive character of the intermediate due to resonance,
hence A.
Qu18: A
This is a Diels-Alder
reaction.... hints are the reaction conditions (i.e. no reagents), and the
bridged structure of the product. The challenge here is to reveal
the starting material. The easiest way is push the curly arrows to "reverse"
the Diels-Alder and reveal the diene: start at the C=C and work around the cyclohexene
unit. B has the dienophile C=C in the wrong location,
and C has a methyl group in the wrong location,
D and E
have the wrong diene unit.
REGIO- and STEREOCHEMISTRY:
How well do you know your reagents ? Look
at what has actually happened in terms of the reaction functional group transformation
and then first look for any regiochemical issues then finally the stereochemistry
last (it's the hardest to sort out). In cases where more than one product
is formed in equal amounts (e.g. the enantiomers), then both must be selected
for full marks, part marks are given when only one of the pair is selected.
Advice : in each case draw the starting material in the
conformation in which is reacts or the product in the conformation in which
it is initially formed using wedge-hash diagrams. It is a good idea to draw
the materials in such a way that the new bonds are in the plane of the page.
Once you have drawn the materials It may also be good for you to use model kits
for these questions too. Once you have drawn the materials in this way,
you may need to consider rotations around sigma bonds to make your answer match
the options. An alternative approach could be to assign configurations
to your drawn answer to compare them with the options - this can be slow and
prone to error.
Qu19: E
Reaction of an alkene
with a halogen in the presence of water gives a 1,2-halohydrin via a cyclic
chloronium ion, the regiochemistry will put the -OH at the more substituted
position with anti stereochemistry to the Cl atom and the -OH group. A
and B have the wrong functional group, C has the wrong regiochemistry
and wrong stereochemistry, D has the
wrong regiochemistry.
Qu20: A
Reaction of an alkene
with a hypohalous gives a 1,2-halohydrin via a cyclic halonium ion, the
regiochemistry will put the -OH at the more substituted position with anti stereochemistry
to the Br atom and the -OH group. In this question, the halohydrin is then treated
with a base to form the epoxide via an intramolecular SN2 (also a Williamson
ether synthesis) and then the epoxide is opened to give a 1,2-diol. So only
A and B have the right functional
groups. The challenge here is to track the stereochemistry. The reactions are
anti addition, then SN2 so Nu and LG at 180 degrees then another SN reaction
where Nu and LG are at 180 degrees. This leads to A. You may need to
look at models or drawings to see this.
Qu21: C
The starting material is an alkyne, the first set of reagents indicate
a dissolving
metal reduction of an alkyne to the trans-alkene. This then reacts with
Br2 to give a cyclic bromonium ion, which in the presence of CH3OH (the alcohol
reacts as a nucleophile) will open to give a 1,2-alkoxybromide so only C and D have the right functional groups, but D has the wrong stereochemistry. The reactions
are addition to give the trans C=C and the Br and CH3O are added anti. You may
need to look at models or drawings to see this. You might want to redraw the
product Fischer
diagram first as a wedge-dash
diagram viewed from the side.
Qu22: AC
The starting material is an alkyne, the first set of reagents indicate
a catalytic
hydrogenation reduction of alkyne to an alkene to the cis-alkene. This then
reacts with osmium
tetroxide reacts with alkenes to give 1,2-diols via a syn addition. You
might want to think of the product in a wedge-dash
diagram viewed from the side first to "derive" the Fischer
diagram. Since A and C are enantiomers, both will be formed
in equal amounts. B and D have the wrong stereochemistry.
Qu23: D
This reactions involved are the dehydration
of an alcohol followed by catalytic
hydrogenation of the alkene. The key issue here is that only one product
is formed. This means that neither of the C with the methyl substituents attached
can be part of the C=C formed in the elimination reaction. Only alcohol D
can give such an alkene. All of the others will undergo Zaitsev
elimination to give the more highly substituted alkenes that will include
at least one of the substituted C atoms.
Qu24: CD
The reaction is the hydroboration-oxidation
of an alkene to give racemic 1-phenyl-2-propanol. The reaction gives the
anti-Markovnikov alcohol via a syn addition due to the concerted addition of
the B and H across the C=C. Since the -OH is added at the least hindered end
the starting alkene must be 1-phenyl-1-propene, either cis D or trans
C will work since the C1 carbon becomes a CH2 group. A is
a meaningless structure (valence rules) and B would give 2-phenyl-1-propanol.
Qu25: CD
Very closely related to the previous question. Alkenes
react with aq. acid to undergo additions to alcohols in accord with Markovnikov's
rule, based on the resonance stabilisation of the benzylic carbocation intermediate,
either C or D give the required product. A is a
meaningless structure (valence rules) and B would give 2-phenyl-2-propanol. Alkyne E
would give a ketone.
AROMATICITY and
RESONANCE:
Best method is to work through the molecules
and decide on the aromaticity based on the four criteria
(cyclic, planar, conjugated pi system with 4n+2 pi electrons)
Qu26: BCDE
Conjugation
requires an extended pi system (at least 3 atoms) where the pi systems can interact
(parallel, not perpendicular). This is not restricted to all carbon systems.
Make sure you draw out all the bonds to be sure (is that why you missed out
C?)
Qu27: AD
Apply the criteria
for aromaticity. B, C and E do not contain cyclic pi
systems and hence are non-aromatic.
Qu28: AB
Heteroaromatic
systems must obey the criteria
for aromaticity and have a non C atom as part of the cyclic pi system. C
is not aromatic, D and E are aromatic but not heteroaromatic.
Qu29: BE
Conjugation
requires an extended pi system (at least 3 atoms) where the pi systems can interact
(parallel, not perpendicular). To evaluate aromaticity, apply the criteria
for aromaticity. To be non-aromatic, they must fail one of the first 3 criteria.
A and D are aromatic. C does not have an extended pi system
so it can not be conjugated.
Qu30: A
Apply the criteria
for aromaticity and use n=1 in the Huckel rule so we want 6 pi electrons.
B is anti-aromatic (it's not a 4n+2 pi system) and C is aromatic
but n=0 (it has 2 pi electrons). D is an n=2 aromatic system and E
is non-aromatic since its flexible enough to be non-planar.
Qu31: A
Apply the criteria
for aromaticity. C and D are aromatic. B and E
are non-aromatic but do not have tautomers.
A is the N analogue of a carbonyl.
Qu32: ACE
Apply the criteria
for aromaticity. Only B is not aromatic. Now think about adding a
proton, H+, to each of the others... this means thinking about how the lone
pair figures in the pi system. In A the N lone pair is not part of the
pi system since the N is part of a C=N. In C the N is external to the
aromatic pi system. In D the N lone pair is part of the aromatic pi system
which means that the conjugate acid would not be aromatic. In E while
the N lone pair is part of an aromatic pi system, the presence of the benzene
ring in the conjugate acid means that it is still aromatic (it's a different
pi system).
Qu33: BCE
This question brings some laboratory aspects in with lectures, and some
nomenclature. Do you know the structures you worked with? Note anything with
phenyl in the name has a benzene ring present and so must be aromatic.