13 - Alkenes Flashcards
Structure of alkenes
Unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least 1 C=C bond - aliphatic alkenes have a formula of CnH2n
Do cyclic alkenes obey general formula?
No - but branched ones do ; draw out cyclic alkenes to see how many carbon and hydrogen atoms
Nature of double bond in alkenes
Alkenes have 4 electrons in outer shell - carbon in double bond has 3/4 forming sigma binds but 1 electron on each atom in double bond forms a pi bond is formed
How is a pi bond formed?
Through sideways overlap of 2 p orbitals ; pi electron density is concentrated above and below the line joining the nuclei of the bonding atoms - sigma bond is the actual line between the two carbon atoms while pi bond above and below it
What does pi bond do?
Locks the two carbons in place and stops them from moving around the double bond making it different from ALKANES (where rotation is possible)
What is the angle around a carbon in C=C bond in alkenes?
There are 3 regions of electron density around each carbon atom which repel each other as far apart as possible so the bond angle around each carbon atom is 120 degrees - TRIGONAL PLANAR
Draw but-2-en-1-ol
Remember OH takes priority over double bond
What is stereoisomerism?
Same structural formula but a different arrangement of the atoms in space
E/Z isomerism?
Type of stereoisomerism that only occurs in compounds with a C=C bond
Why does stereoisomerism arise?
Because rotation about the double bond (pi + sigma) is restricted and the groups attached to each carbon are fixed relative to each other
Why is the double bond rigid?
Because of the pi bonds electron density above and below the sigma plane (p orbitals overlap above and below with more electrons than s or p in sigma)
What conditions must a molecule satisfy for E/Z isomerism?
1) A C=C BOND
2) DIFFERENT GROUPS ATTACHED TO EACH CARBON ATOM OF THE DOUBLE BOND
Why does but-1-ene not display stereoisomerism but but-2-ene does?
In but-1-ene the carbon atom is attached to two Hydrogen atoms which means that it does not satisfy the second condition of there having to be a different group on each carbon ; but-2-ene has a methylene group and a hydrogen atom on each of the carbon atoms so it has E/Z isomerism
What is cis trans isomerism?
A special case of E/Z isomerism where the molecules must have a C=C bond and each carbon must be attached to two different groups (like all E/Z isomer)s BUT in CIS TRANS ONE OF THE ATTACHED GROUP ON EACH CARBON ATOM OF THE DOUBLE BOND MUST BE THE SAME
Cis isomer?
Has the hydrogen atoms and methyl groups on each carbon on the same side of the molecule
Trans isomer
Has hydrogen atoms and methyl group diagonally opposite
Is cis Z or E?
Z
Is trans Z or E?
E
When can cis trans only be used?
When each carbon atom in double bond is attached to a single hydrogen atom
Cahn Ingold Prelog rules?
Given priority based upon atomic number
1) If groups of higher priority on same side of double bond then it is Z
2) If groups of higher priority are diagonally placed then it is E
How to compare higher priority?
Look at each carbon of the double bond carefully and compare BETWEEN THE ATOMS/GROUPS ATTACHED TO THE CARBON ATOM ITSELF
For single atoms bonded to each carbon atom how do we judge priority?
Higher priority = higher atomic number
What if the two atoms attached to the carbon are the same?
Then find the first point of difference WHICHEVER HAS HIGHER ATOMIC NUMBER THEN THIS IS GIVEN HIGHER PRIORITY
Why are alkenes more reactive than alkanes?
Due to the presence of the double bond which contains both the pi and sigma bond - pi bond has its electron density concentrated above and below sigma plane therefore they’re are more exposed and can thus break more readily (leaving sigma bond intact)
4 addition reactions of Alkenes
Hydrogen (nickel catalyst) Halogens Hydrogen halides Steam (acid catalyst) Each involves addition of small molecule across double bond causing pi bond to break and new ones to form
What is an addition reaction?
Two molecules react to form one saturated product
Hydrogenation of alkenes
Alkene + hydrogen + nickel catalyst + 423K
Addition reaction forming an alkane - double bond breaks and both H atoms are bonded on
NUMBER OF C=C BONDS = NUMBER OF H2 MOLECULES ; ALL C=C BONDS BREAK TO BECOME SATURATED
Halogenation of alkenes
Alkenes undergo a rapid addition reaction with the halogens Cl2 and Br2 at RTP ; similar to Hydrogenation resulting in haloalkane
Test for unsaturation
Alkene + bromine can be sued to test for presence of C=C bond - ORANGE BROMINE is added to alkene ; Orange colour becomes colourless if double bond is present. If test is carried out with a saturated compound then there is no addition reaction and no colour change
Alkenes + hydrogen halides
Alkenes + gaseous Hydrogen Halides at RTP to form halo alkanes ; hydrogen halide is always a gas therefore if alkene is liquid then hydrogen halide bubbled through it/with HCl.
UNSYMMETRICAL ALKENES WITH HYDROGEN HALIDE (ALSO UNSYMMETRICAL) PRODUCES 2 POSSIBLE PRODUCTS