Question

Chair and Boat Conformers of Cyclohexane (C6H12). Note it is impossible to place all the carbons in the same plane without straining the bonds. Take two opposite carbons and pull both of them up to make one conformation and then pull one of them down to make the other conformation.
a. Can you interconvert one conformer into the other without breaking any bonds?
b. Explain why these represent conformers and not isomers.

Answer 1

Answer:

See explanation

Explanation:

Conformation refers to the various spatial arrangements of atoms in a molecule that result from free rotation across the carbon-carbon single bond.

There are two possible conformations of cyclohexane. They are; the chair and boat conformations.

We can convert the molecule from one conformation to another by rotation of single bonds.

These conformations are not isomers. Isomers are different molecules while conformers are different spatial arrangements of the same molecule obtained by rotation across carbon-carbon single bonds. Isomers are not obtained by rotation across carbon-carbon single bonds.

Hence, the chair and boat conformers of cyclohexane are obtained by rotation across the carbon-carbon single bond hence they are conformers and not isomers.