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Organic Chemistry Structure & Alkanes PDF
Organic Chemistry Structure & Alkanes PDF
I. Basics:
A. Hydrocarbons:
1. Alkanes-hydrocarbons that only contain single bonds.
2. Alkenes-hydrocarons that contain a double bond.
3. Alkynes-hydrocarbons that contain a triple bond.
B. Saturated:
1. Alkane that has the maximum number of hydrogens.
a) Contains no double or triple bonds.
C. Molecular Formulas:
1. The basic formula of an alkane is C2Hn+2
2. Homologs- n-alkanes that differ in the number of carbons in the chain.
3. Common names indicate connectivity. Eg. Iso- branched
*Complex substituents are named by selecting the longest alkyl chain as a base
group, the numbering starts with the carbon that is attached to the main chain.
ii)this is due to the fact that branching gives it a more compact structure,
which packs more easily into a solid structure thereby increasing melting pt.
A. Methane-
1. simplest of all the structures, perfectly tetrahedral with bond angles of 109.5 .
2. sp3 hybridized carbon.
3. covalent bonding to the hydrogen that resulted in bond lengths of 1.09 A.
B. Ethane-
1. Two carbon alkane with overlapping sp3 forming a sigma bond between them.
2. Can have rotation about the sigma bond connecting carbons
a) Conformations- the different arrangements formed from the different rotations
about the sigma bond.
b) Newman Projection- a way of looking at a molecule straight down the bond
connecting the two carbon atoms. The front of the carbon is represented by
three lines coming together in a Y shape. The back carbon is represented by
similar lines coming out behind the circle to where only the ends of the lines can
be seen.
c) Dihedral angle(-theta)- the angle that results between the C-H bonds of the
front carbon and the same bonds of the back carbon.
d) Eclipsed conformation-(-theta=0)- the conformation in which the rear
hydrogen areeclipsed by those in the front.
e) Staggered conformation-(-theta=60)- the conformation in which the rear
hydrogens are halfway between the hydrogens on the front carbon.
f) Torsional Strain- the resistance to rotation due to an increase in the potential
energy attained while approaching the eclipsed conformation.
Note- from the ethane molecule to higher number carbons, you substitute Hs for methyl
groups. The adding of carbon allows for a couple more conformations.
g) Gauche- any staggered conformation in which theta is between 0 and 180.
h) Anti- the conformation in which theta is 180. Usually the lowest energy
conformation due to minimal interferance of attached groups overlapping
electron densities.
i) Steric Hinderance- Structural limitations that arise due to the overlapping of
electron densities of adjacent substituents. Makes certain conformations
impossible and others more favorable.
II. Cycloalkanes: