Isomerism and hybridization Flashcards
what is stereochemistry?
the study of molecules as 3D structures
what is a mirror image?
the reflection of an object in a mirror
what is chirality?
an object and its mirror image are nonsuperposable
what is achirality?
an object that lacks chirality; an object and its mirage image are superposable
What makes an object achiral?
If it has one or more element of symmetry
What are two (2) examples of elements of symmetry?
- Plane of symmetry
2. Center of symmetry
What is a plane of symmetry?
An imaginary plane passing through an object dividing it so that one half is the mirror image of the other half
What is a center of symmetry?
A point situated so that for all atoms in a molecule, an identical atom lies on opposite sides and equidistant from that point.
What is the simplest way to determine if an object is chiral?
If an object has no element of symmetry it is chiral.
What are stereoisomers?
Isomers that have the same molecular formula and connectivity but a different orientation of their atoms in space.
What is a conformational isomer?
Isomers that can be interconverted exclusively by rotations about a single bond.
What is a configurational isomer?
Isomers that have the same connectivity of atoms but the attached atoms are in different positions.
What is an enantiomer?
Stereoisomers that are nonsuperposable mirror images (i.e. chiral objects) of each other.
What is the difference between the terms “chiral” and “enantiomers?”
“Chirality” is a characteristic of objects while “enantiomers” refers to a relationship between a pair of objects.
What is a chiral center?
A tetrahedral atom (usually carbon) bonded to four different groups.
What is the most common cause of chirality in organic molecules?
A chiral center
What is a stereocenter and what is a specific type of stereocenter?
An atom about which exchange of two groups produces a stereoisomer. (For example, the carbons bonded to two groups to form cis,trans isomers.) Chiral centers are a type of stereocenter.
What two types of objects can comprise configurational isomers?
- Chiral
2. Achiral
What is it called when a pair of configurational isomers are chiral objects?
Enantiomerism
What’s an example of of a pair of configurational isomers that are achiral objects?
Some cis,trans isomers (ex. 1,4-dimethylcyclohexane)
What is cis,trans isomerism?
Isomerism that exists because of restricted rotation about a double bond.
What is a diastereomer?
Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other.
What will cause diastereomerism?
Two or more stereocenters in a molecule.
Why are conformational isomers considered stereoisomers?
Because the atoms are arranged differently in space.
What is the stereoisomer relationship between gauche and anti conformations?
Diastereomers because they are not mirror images.
What is the stereoisomer relationship between the two gauche conformations?
Enantiomers because they are mirror images and not superposable. These conformations have chirality.
Describe how chirality can be present in molecules without chiral centers
When (1) the barrier to interconversion between conformational isomers is large and (2) the enantiomers cannot interconvert through a planar (achiral) conformation, the molecule will be chiral and the enantiomers can be separated.
What is absolute configuration?
Which of two possible isomers an enantiomer is
How do you assign an absolute configuration? (3 steps)
- Assign priority using same priority system as E,Z
- Put the lowest priority group of the tetrahedral atom behind the atom
- Trace from highest priority to second highest priority and assign R if clockwise and S if counterclockwise.
What is the name of isomers which lack a chiral center but do not interconvert because of hindered rotation? (in otherwords, form diastereomers through isolatable conformations)
Atropisomers
Describe the relationship of all chiral centers between a pair of enantiomers
All chiral centers are the opposite between two enantiomers. (e.g. (2S,3R,4R) and (2R, 3S,4S))
What is the maximum number of stereoisomers for a molecule with n stereocenters?
2^n
What causes a molecule to have less stereoisomers than the maximum number predicted?
A configuration may result in a meso compound. Each meso compound decreases the total number of stereoisomers by 1 because its mirror image is not a different molecule.
What is a meso compound (meso structure)
A compound that (1) possesses 2 or more chiral centers, (2) is achiral and (3) has chiral stereoisomers.
Describe common characteristics of a meso compound (4 components)
Two chiral centers, each with the same four groups, and one is R and the other is S. There is an internal plane of symmetry.
Describe the physical and chemical properties of enantiomers in an achiral environment
Enantiomers have identical physical and chemical properties in an achiral environment.
Describe the physical and chemical properties of diastereomers
Diastereomers have different physical and chemical properties even in an achiral environment.
What is a Fischer projection?
A two-dimensional projection of a molecule where the horizontal molecules are by convention in front and vertical molecules are by convention behind.
Why is a Fischer projection not equivalent to the same Fischer projection after being rotated by 90 degrees?
The convention of having horizontal groups in front and the vertical groups behind make rotations impermissible.
How do you determine if a carbon has 4 different attached groups in a ring?
Determine the connectivity by going all the way around the ring, if there is a point of difference in the order of the groups you encounter, they are not the same groups.
What is angle of specific rotation?
A physical property of an asymmetrical molecule that measures how much it rotates a plane of polarized light.
What causes optical activity?
Electromagnetic fields of a chiral molecule interact with the field of electromagnetic radiation asymmetrically causing rotation of polarized light
What is clockwise rotation of polarized light called?
Dextrorotatory
What is counterclockwise rotation of polarized light called?
Levorotatory
What can be said of the optical activity of products formed from optically inactive reactants?
Optically active products cannot be formed
What can be said of the optical activity of the products formed from chiral reactants?
Can be optically active or inactive
What is the utility of the fact that chiral reactants can form optically active or inactive products?
Whether the products are optically active or inactive gives insight into the mechanism
What can be said of the relative amounts of products formed by reactions introducing a second chiral or stereocenter?
The products need not be in equal amounts
What is the explanation for why unequal amounts of products may be formed in a reaction introducing a second stereocenter?
The two possible transition states are diastereomeric and have unequal activation energies
What is a conjugated diene?
A diene in which the double bonds are separated by one single bond (e.g. R-C=C-C=C-R)
What is a cumulated diene?
A diene in which the two double bonds share an sp-hybridzed carbon. (e.g. R-C=C=C-R)
What is a diene?
Compounds that contain two carbon-carbon double bonds.
What are is the geometry of carbons in a conjugated system?
Trigonal planar (sp2 hybridization with an unhybridized p orbital)
What is an isolated diene?
A diene in which the two double bonds are separated by more than one single bond.
What is another name for a cumulated diene system?
Allenic system
Why do the p orbitals not overlap in a cumulated system?
The sp hybridization of the shared carbon requires the p orbitals of the sp2 carbons to be 90 degrees apart for sigma overlap.
Compare the stability of conjugated systems to unconjugated systems
Compounds containing conjugated double bonds are more stable than isomeric compounds containing unconjugated double bonds.
Describe the geometry of a conjugated system
The four sp2 hybridized atoms of conjugated systems are restricted to a planar geometry.
What causes the geometry of a conjugated system?
Maximal overlap of [all four] pi orbitals occurs when they are parallel and thus planar.
What is the significance of the geometry of a conjugated system? (2 components)
(1) Because of the extra stability of all four pi orbitals being planar, there is a barrier to rotation about the single bond. (2) This creates isolatable s-cis and s-trans planar conformations.
What does allylic refer to?
Next to a carbon-carbon double bond.
What is an allylic carbocation?
A carbocation in which an allylic carbon bears the positive charge.
What is the two-step mechanism for the 1,2 and 1,4 electrophilic addition to a conjugated diene?
- Nucleophilic pi bond attacks electrophile and creates an allylic carbocation. The ability of remaining pi bond to shift creates a resonance hybrid with two possible carbocation locations.
- Make a new bond between a nucleophile and a carbocation. The original carbocation is 1,2 addition and the “resonance” carbocation is 1,4 addition.
What is the rate determining step of 1,2 and 1,4 electrophilic addition to a conjugated diene?
Formation of allylic carbocation stabilized by resonance
What is kinetic (rate) control?
When the distribution of products determined by the relative rates of formations of each product