OCHEM QUESTION- help

[JustwantDDS]

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My question is, why is the red structure not the most stable? Both substituents are on equatorial, whereas the black structure one is axial one is equatorial.
To be cis, they both have to point downwards...

I ran across this while watching Chad's videos, so could anyone help?
He arbitrarily chooses the 1 position, is there a way to do this?

 

[lex1489]

Your drawings don't correspond to the name you gave. You've drawn (z)-1,2,2-trimethyl-1-t-butylcyclohexane.

Also, on the red diagram you mis-drew the methyl groups on the left. Anything coming out of a 'point' should be axial, anything coming out of the a 'cave' should be equatorial.

 

[JustwantDDS]

OMG you're right; I just caught onto my stupid mistake.
thanks!

 

[herkulease]

you incorrectly drew the structure.

You can't have both 1 and 2 axial point up. they alternate.

If 1 is pointing up then 2 has to be pointing down. then 3 up, etc.