ring, hydrogen, nickel

[dat_student]

Kaplan says that cyclopropane can be converted to propane in the presence of Nickel (catalyst) and Hydrogen. Does anyone know if this is a true statement??!! My books don't say anything about opening a ring with hydrogen.

 

[cowsgomoo]

Kaplan says that cyclopropane can be converted to propane in the presence of Nickel (catalyst) and Hydrogen. Does anyone know if this is a true statement??!! My books don't say anything about opening a ring with hydrogen.

Hmm... That's new to me too. But it might just work due to all that angle and steric strain present in that ring. 😀 😀

 

[mochafreak]

Hmm... That's new to me too. But it might just work due to all that angle and steric strain present in that ring. 😀 😀

Yup, that's got to be due to angle strain...can't find anything in my book about it either though.

 

[dat_student]

Yup, that's got to be due to angle strain...can't find anything in my book about it either though.

That was question #89 on kaplan's midterm:

How many structural isomers with the formula C3H6 will react with hydrogen in the presence of a nickel catalyst to form propane?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5

I chose A: C=C-C

Kaplan says B:
C=C-C
....C
.../..\
..C - C

My books don't say cyclopropane reacts with hydrogen to form propane.

 

[Richnator]

Like the previous post, it is angle strain. Anything below 5 carbons will form alkanes.

 

[mochafreak]

That was question #89 on kaplan's midterm:

How many structural isomers with the formula C3H6 will react with hydrogen in the presence of a nickel catalyst to form propane?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5

I chose A: C=C-C

Kaplan says B:
C=C-C
....C
.../..\
..C - C

My books don't say cyclopropane reacts with hydrogen to form propane.

I looked back at my answers from when I took that and I also chose 'A'. 👍