Topic 17+18: Further Organic Flashcards
What is optical isomerism?
Stereoisomerism has 2 types. Ya sabes geometric, now learn optical.
Optical isomers: non-superimposable mirror images of each other w asymmetry. This is chirality.
Enantiomers: chiral molecules w C as the chiral centre.
Chirality arises if a molecule contains a tetrahedral C atom w 4 DIFF groups attached. If 2 groups are the same, there’s no chirality bc one can be superimposed on the other.
What is the difference between an unpolarised wave and a plane polarised wave?
Unpolarised wave: oscillations may occur in any plane or direction.
Plane polarised wave: oscillations only occur in 1 plane/direction.
Some materials can absorb all of the oscillations except those in a single plane, and so convert unpolarised light into plane polarised light.
Describe and explain polarimetry and how a polarimeter works
Polarimetry: using a polarimeter to measure the amount of optical activity. A monochromatic light passes thru a polarising filter called the polariser. This converts unpolarised light into vertically plane polarised light.
Plane polarised light passes thru a sample tube w some of the substance in solution. If the substance is optically active (bc it is an enantiomer), then the plane of polarisation rotates. Clockwise rotation means the substance is dextrorotary. Anticlockwise rotation= laevorotatory.
The second polarising filter (the analyser) is rotated to a position where max light intensity can be seen. The angle of rotation is measured. It is + if the rotation is clockwise and negative if the rotation is anticlockwise.
Describe physical and chemical properties of two enantiomers.
2 enantiomers= identical phys properties except, they rotate plane polarised light by equal angles, but opp directions. They’re thus optically active. So if rotation for 1 enantiomer is +60°, rotation for the other is -60°.
2 enantiomers have identical chem properties w 1 exception: the way in which they react with enantiomers of other substances. This property may be diff for each enantiomer.
When hay equal quantities of 2 enantiomers the mixture is racemic. No hay optical activity bc the anticlock and clockwise rotations on plane polarised light cancel out.
Draw the SN2 mechanism for nucleophilic substitution of 3-fluro-3-bromoethane and explain the product formed.
This is an enantiomer. Only 1 product isomer is formed. If you had 1 enantiomer to begin w, you end up w the opp one in the product. Eg if reactant=dextrorotary, product= laevorotary.
By measuring the optical activity of the original haloalkanes and the alcohol formed, we can show if the reaction has occurred by the SN2 mechanism.
Draw the SN1 mechanism for 3-fluro-3-bromoethane
The og haloalkane has a tetrahedral shape, but the product of the first step is a planar carbocation.
This means that in the 2nd step hay an equal chance that the attacking HO:- can approach from the left OR right. Therefore hay 2 enantiomer products. These are present in equal numbers so a racemic mixture is formed. The product will have no optical activity.
Describe polar bonding in carbonyls
The electron density in the pi bond alkenes are evenly distributed across both carbon atoms.
In carbonyls however, the C=O bond is polar bc of differing electronegativities of carbon and oxygen. The electron density is greater near the oxygen rather than the carbon atom.
Describe bpt of carbonyls
Aldehydes and ketones have higher intermolecular forces than alkanes.
They contain the polar C=O group so they have permanent dipole-dipole attractions. No H bonding as all their H atoms are joined to C atoms.
As with alkanes and alcohols, boiling temps increase w increasing chain length (more Ldn forces). At room temp methanal is a gas. The other carbonyl compounds are liquids.
Describe solubility of carbonyls
Lower aldehydes and ketones are soluble in water because they can form H bonds with water molecules.
Solubility of aldehydes and ketones decreases with increasing chain length as the hydrocarbon part of the molecule increases and is not polar.
How can aldehydes and ketones can be reduced to alcohols?
Both aldehydes and ketones can be reduced to alcohols by LiAlH4.
Conditions: both the carbonyl compound and reducing agent are dissolved in dry ether. The reducing agent is represented by H.
CH3CH2CHO + 2[H] –> CH3CH2CH2OH
CH3COCH2CH3 + 2[H] –> CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3
Describe how to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones using Acidified potassium dichromate.
Acidified potassium dichromate heated under reflux is used to test for alcohols (1y and 2y) & aldehydes
The colour goes from orange Cr2O72- to green Cr3+ Reduced from Cr(+6) to Cr(+3)
Describe how to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones using Fehlings/Benedict’s solution.
Reagents: copper sulphate solution & NaOH solution. Conditions: warm gently
Aldehydes form a brick red ppt, ketones don’t form a brick red ppt. Aldehydes reduce the Cu(II) ion to Cu(I) oxide.
Because the solution is alkaline, the aldehyde itself is oxidised to a salt of the corresponding carboxylic acid. RCHO + 2Cu 2+ + 5OH- -> RCOO- + Cu2O + 3H2O
Describe how to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones using Tollen’s reagent
This is an oxidation reaction, Tollen’s is the oxidising agent
Reagents: silver nitrate solution, few drops of NaOH (aq) and a little ammonia solution. Warm gently.
Result: Aldehydes: silver mirror Ketones: no silver mirror
Aldehydes reduce the diamine silver(I) ion to metallic silver. Because the solution is alkaline, the aldehyde is oxidised to a salt of the carboxylic acid.
Describe how to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones using the iodoform reaction
Reagents: solution of iodine in potassium iodide & NaOH solution. Conditions: cold/room temp.
Positive result = yellow ppt and antiseptic smell
This shows the presence of a C=O next to a methyl group (we call it a methyl carbonyl) OR an –OH next to a terminal CH3 group
Describe how to detect a carbonyl using 2,4-DNP (Brady’s reagent)
Reagents: 2,4 DNPH Conditions: room temp. Result: yellow/orange ppt.
The reaction is a condensation reaction bc 2 molecules join together with the loss of a small molecule, in this case water. (nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction).
To determine WHICH carbonyl was present: the ppt is filtered off, recrystallised and the mpt found. This can be compared to known mpts of 2,4-DNPH derivative to identify the original carbonyl.
Describe reactivity of aldehydes vs ketones
Aldehydes are generally more reactive than ketones bc the presence of the two alkyl groups hinders nucleophilic attack and reduces the partial + charge on the carbon atom of the carbonyl group.
What is recrystallisation?
Recrystallisation purifies a solid substance. When a compound is isolated from a reaction mixture it contains impurities which are removed by dissolving the substance in a suitable hot solvent and leaving to cool.
As the solution cools the solubility of the compound decreases and purer crystals are formed. Recrystallisation may be repeated several times.
Impurities in a substance will affect its mpt and make it difficult to identify the compound isolated from a reaction.
Why is HCN so dangerous?
Highly toxic because it inhibits a mitochondrial enzyme for restoration.
It is hard to handle safely because it’s so volatile and flammable.
A safer alternative is KCN which is solid at room temp and it’s easier to handle. An acidified solution contains both H+ and CN- ions
How do carbonyls react w hydrogen cyanide?
The reaction is carried out in aq alkaline solution of sodium cyanide. The equations/mechanisms are the same for aldehydes and ketones. A hydroxynitrile forms.
A H atom attaches to the O of the carbonyl group and a CN group attaches to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group. Addition to propanal forms 2-hydroxybutanenitrile CH3CH2CHO + HCN –> CH3CH2CH(OH)CN
Addition to butanone –> 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanenitrile CH3COCH2CH3 + HCN –> CH3C(CN)(OH)CH2CH3
Draw the mechanism for the reaction : nucleophilic addition of KCN to ethanal
Describe the melting and boiling pts of carboxylic acids
High bpts due to H bonding (higher than alkanes).
Boiling temperatures increase with increasing molar mass because of more London forces.
Describe solubility of the carboxylic acids
Small carboxylic acids are soluble in water. H bonds form between water and carboxylic acid molecules.
Solubility of the bigger acids decreases rapidly w size. Longer hydrocarbon part of the molecule increases and is not polar.
What kind of acids are carboxylic acids?
Carboxylic acids are weakly acidic bc of the slighlty + H in the COOH.
The - charge is delocalised across the carboxylate group resulting in a more stable ion. Delocalisation is represented by adding a dotted line to the CO bonds which are both equivalent.
So carboxylic acids PARTIALLY dissociate in aq solution
How are carboxylic acids made weaker and stronger?
Electron donating groups push e towards the carboxylic acid carbon, which stabilises the OH bond and makes it harder to break. EDG make acids weaker, hay less dissociation so Ka is smaller
Electron withdrawing groups eg halogens or electroneg groups pull e away from the carboxylic acid carbon, weakening the OH bond, making it easier to break. EWG make acids stronger, hay mas dissociation, Ka is bigger
CH3COOH + H20 → CH3C00- + H3O+
In short: Methyl groups donate/push e-s away and stabilise neighbouring carbons. Halogens/electroneg groups withdraw electrons away.
State the 3 ways you can make carboxylic acids
1) strong oxidation of a primary alcohol w acidified k dichromate under reflux
2) further oxidation of an aldehyde
3) hydrolysis of a nitrile. Reagents: dilute HCl/H2SO4. Conditions: boil/reflux
CH3CN + 2H2O + H+ → CH3COOH + NH4+
what are amines?
Amines: organic compounds based on ammonia, NH3 , in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups.
Amines have a fishy or rotting smell
what is the shape of amonia?
Ammonia (NH3) is pyramidal in shape, as it has a lone pair in place of one bonding pair.
These exert a stronger repulsive force, so push the bonding pairs further away.
This reduces the bond angle by about 2.5°
How do we name primary amines?
C2H5NH2 ethylamine
C4H9NH2 butylamine
C6H5NH2 phenylamine
How do you name secondary amines?
How do you name tertiary amines?
Tertiary: trialkyl prefix if chains same, e.g. trimethylamine
OR: N,N-alkylalkylalkylamine
e.g. N,N-ethylmethylpropylamine
Name the following:
What happens when other NH2 functional groups are present in the amine?
If other functional groups are present in the molecule, the presence of amine groups is denoted using the amino– prefix.
Describe bpts of amines
Primary and secondary amines have a polar N–H bond so they can form H bonds w other amine molecules.
Primary have 2 H-bonds, so would have the higher mpt than secondary
Tertiary amine molecules have no H atoms directly attached to the N so no H bonds. Therefore tertiary has a lower bpt
Explain amine solubility in water.
Water can form H bonds with all amines, including tertiary amines (most with primary then secondary then tertiary).
Thus smaller amines are readily soluble in water but solubility decreases as the number of C atoms increases bc larger R groups interfere with the hydrogen bonds.