Chapter 3: Conformations of Alkanes and Cycloalkanes |
Cyclohexane
This is a common and therefore important ring system, what should you know ?
CYCLOHEXANE ΔHc / CH2 = -653 kJ/mol (-156.1 kcal/mol) |
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Let's investigate in more detail some of the important features of the 3D shape of cyclohexane.
An important feature of this process is that the axial and equatorial positions switch. If you watch carefully you will see that a position that was axial in one chair is equatorial in the other and vice versa.
The animation below shows how the potential energy of the
cyclohexane molecule varies during the ring-flip process.
Use the controls to show the energies of the important conformations.
Note that the boat conformation is an unstable conformation (i.e. a maxima)
on the pathway.
© Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry |