Alkenes & Alkynes Flashcards
What is an alkene?
An alkene is a molecule with a C to C double bond.
What happened to an alkene when it is exposed to hydrogen over a metal catalyst?
It reduces them to alkanes with cis-addition of hydrogen atoms from the catalysts surface.
E and Z shaped alkenes reduce to different…
diastereomers.
Do cyclic alkenes have limits on their possible products?
Yes, this is due to their shape and the fact that the hydrogen adds to only one site. They often create meso compounds or enantiomers.
What is an alkyne?
An alkyne is a molecule which has a C to C triple bond.
They are linear (180°) and rotatable.
Why are alkynes not rotationally restricted like alkenes?
Due to their atomic orbitals,
How are alkynes reduced?
They are reduced in the same way as alkenes except they are further reduce from an alkene to an alkane.
