Topic 17 - Organic Chemistry II Flashcards
What type of isomerism does optical isomerism fall under?
Stereoisomerism (same structural formula, but different arrangement of atoms in space)
What are optical isomers?
Mirror images of each other
What is a chiral carbon?
A carbon atom that has 4 different groups attached to it.
What is the name for the two optical isomers that can be formed around a choral carbon?
Enantiomers
What are enantiomers?
- Optical isomers that are mirror images of each other that can’t be superimposed.
- They occur when a carbon atom has 4 different groups attached to it.
How can you draw the optical isomers of a molecule given to you?
1) Locate any chiral centres
• Look for any carbon atoms with 4 different groups attached
2) Draw the isomers
• Draw one enantiomer in a tetrahedral shape
• Draw a mirror image beside it by reflecting it in an imaginary mirror
When drawing optical isomers, what do you do when there is more than one chiral centre?
Mirror each chiral centre one by one to get all the possible isomers.
What properties do optical isomers show?
They rotate plane-polarised light.
What is the name for the ability of optical isomers to rotate plane-polarised light?
They are said to be optically active.
What can be said about the optical activity of enantiomers?
They rotate plane-polarised light in opposite directions (1 clockwise, 1 anticlockwise)
What is the name for a mixture containing equal quantities of each enantiomer of a chiral compound?
Racemic mixture
What can be said about the optical activity if racemic mixtures?
They don’t rotate plane polarised light, because the two enantiomers cancel each other’s light-rotating effect.
When you react two achiral compounds to give a chiral product, what can be said about the enantiomer produced?
- They will be in equal amounts, so the mixture will be racemic
- This is because the new group(s) have an equal chance of forming each enantiomer
Remember to revise the optical activity of the reaction between butane and chlorine.
Pg 194 of revision guide.
When a single enantiomer reacts to produce a racemic mixture, what does this tell you about the reaction mechanism?
It is SN1.
When a single enantiomer reacts to produce a single enantiomer product, what does this tell you about the reaction mechanism?
It is SN2.
When an enantiomer reacts by an SN1 reaction, describe the optical activity of the product. Why?
• The mixture is racemic
This is because:
• In step 1, a planar ion is formed
• In step 2, the nucleophile from two sides, which results in two enantiomers
(See diagram pg 195 of revision guide)
When an enantiomer reacts by an SN2 reaction, describe the optical activity of the product. Why?
• Only one enantiomer is produced
This is because:
• The nucleophile always attacks the molecule from the opposite side to the leaving group
• So only one enantiomer is produced
Remember to practise working out the mechanism of a reaction by the optical activity of the products.
Pg 195 of revision guide
What type of compound are aldehydes and ketones?
Carbonyl
What are carbonyl compounds?
Those containing the C=O functional group.
Where do aldehydes have the carbonyl group?
At the very end of the carbon chain.
Where do ketones have the carbonyl group?
In the middle of the carbon chain.
How can you tell which carbon the C=O group is on a ketone?
There is a number in the name before the “-one”.
Do aldehydes and ketones hydrogen bond with themselves? Why?
No, because they don’t have a polar O-H bond.
What intermolecular forces do aldehydes and ketones exert on themselves?
- London forces
* Permanent dipole - permanent dipole interactions
How does the boiling point of aldehydes and ketones compare to their equivalent alcohols?
- Aldehydes and ketones have a lower boiling point than alcohols
- Because alcohols can form hydrogen bonds with themselves, while aldehydes and ketones cannot
Can aldehydes and ketones form hydrogen bonds with water? Why?
Yes, because:
• Aldehydes and ketones have a lone pair of electrons on the O of the C=O group
• This can be used to form hydrogen bonds with the water molecules
(See diagram on pg 196 of revision guide)
Can aldehydes and ketones dissolve in water? Why?
Small aldehydes and ketones:
• Yes
• Because they can form hydrogen bonds with the water
Large aldehydes and ketones:
• No
• Because the intermolecular forces (London forces) between the aldehyde or ketones molecules, and the hydrogen bonding between water molecules, are stronger than the hydrogen bonds that could form between the aldehyde/ketone and the water
How does the solubility of aldehydes and ketones change as their size increases?
The larger the aldehyde/ketone, the lower the solubility.
What principle do tests to differentiate between aldehydes and ketones work on?
- Aldehydes can be easily oxidised to a carboxylic acid, but a ketone can’t.
- When the aldehyde is oxidised, another compound is reduced
- This reduces compound changes colour and this is detected
What are the 3 ways of testing for aldehydes (as oppose to a ketone)?
- Tollens’ reagent
- Fehling’s solution or Benedict’s solution
- Acidified dichromate(VI) ions
What is Tollens’ reagent?
- A colourless solution of silver nitrate dissolved in aqueous ammonia
- Ag(NH₃)₂⁺
Describe how to prepare Tollens’ reagent.
- Get some silver(I) nitrate solution
- Add a drop of sodium hydroxide solution (to give a precipitate of silver(I) oxide)
- Add just enough dilute ammonia solution to redissolve the precipitate
What is the positive result for Tollens’ reagent?
A silver mirror forms on the colourless solution.
How is Tollens’ reagent used?
- Colourless solution of silver nitrate dissolved in ammonia is added to the sample
- It is then heated gently in a water bath
- If an aldehyde is present, a silver mirror forms
Describe in words how Tollens’ reagent works.
If an aldehyde is present, it will be oxidised, while the Ag(NH₃)₂⁺ is reduced to give solid silver.
What is the half-equation for Tollens’ reagent being reduced?
Ag(NH₃)₂⁺(aq) + e⁻ -> Ag(s) + 2NH₃(aq)
What is the full equation for a Tollens’ reagent test?
2Ag(NH₃)₂⁺(aq) + RCHO(aq) + 3OH⁻(aq) -> Ag(s) + RCOO⁻(aq) + 4NH₃(aq) + 2H₂O(l)
What is Fehling’s solution and Benedict’s solution?
- Fehling’s solution -> Blue solution of complexes copper(II) ions dissolved in silver hydroxide
- Benedict’s solution -> Blue solution of complexes copper(II) ions dissolved in sodium carbonate
What is the positive result in the Fehling’s solution or Benedict’s solution test?
A brick-red precipitate appears in the blue solution.
Describe in words how Benedict’s/Fehling’s solution works.
If an aldehyde is present, it will be oxidised, while the Cu²⁺ is reduced to give Cu⁺ in Cu₂O, which is a brick-red solid.
What is the half-equation for Fehling’s/Benedict’s solution being reduced?
Cu²⁺(aq) + e⁻ -> Cu⁺(s)
What is the full equation for a Fehling’s/Benedict’s solution test?
RCHO(aq) + 2Cu²⁺ + 5OH⁻ -> RCOO⁻(aq) + Cu₂O(s) + 3H₂O(l)
In a Fehling’s/Benedict’s solution test, what is the brick-red precipitate?
Copper(I) oxide
How is Fehling’s solution or Benedict’s solution used?
- Fehling’s/Benedict’s solution is added to the sample
- It is heated
- If an aldehyde is present, a brick-red precipitate is formed
What is the formula for dichromate(VI) ions?
Cr₂O₇²⁻
When using dichromate(VI) ions to test for an aldehyde, what is it important to remember?
It must be acidified.
What is the positive result when using acidified dichromate(VI) ions to test for an aldehyde?
The solution turns from orange to green.
Describe in words how acidified dichromate(VI) ions work when testing for an aldehyde.
If an aldehyde is present, it will be oxidised, while the orange Cr₂O₇²⁻ is reduced to give Cr³⁺ in Cu₂O, which is green.
What is the half-equation for acidified dichromate(VI) ions being reduced?
Cr₂O₇²⁻ + 14H⁺ + 6e⁻ -> 2 Cr³⁺ + 7H₂O
What is the symbol for a reducing agent?
[H]
What are aldehydes reduced to?
Primary alcohol
What are ketones reduced to?
Secondary alcohol
Give the general equation for an aldehyde being reduced.
R-COH + 2[H] -> R-CH₂OH
Give the general equation for a ketone being reduced.
R-CO-R¹ + 2[H] -> R-CHOH-R
What reducing agent is used to reduce aldehydes/ketones?
LiAlH₄ (Lithium aluminium hydride) in dry ether
What type and mechanism of reaction is the reduction of an aldehyde or ketone? Why?
- Nucleophilic addition
* The reducing agent supplies an H⁻ that acts as a nucleophile and attacks the positive carbon
What is a hydroxynitrile?
A molecule with a CN and OH group.
Remember to practise drawing out the general structure of a hydroxynitrile.
Pg 198 of revision guide
How can a hydroxynitrile be produced from an aldehyde or ketone?
- HCN
- KCN + H⁺
(NOTE: Check these with teacher!)