I hate using ATOT for this, but I'm really pretty out of resources.
The task at hand is to draw a potential energy diagram for all of the conformations of 2-methylbutane. Normally, without that methyl subsitutent, this wouldn't be a big deal, but that's sorta screwed it for me. So, my question is this:
Is the conformation in which the methyl group and carbon 1 eclipse the hydrogens on carbon three lower or higher in energy than the conformation in which carbon 1 is anti to carbon 4 and the methyl group is staggered between carbon 4 and one of carbon 3's hydrogen?
On the one hand, the first option provides more steric interactions between carbon 3's hydrogens and carbon 1 and the methyl group. Yet, in this conformation, Carbon 1 and the methyl group are furthest from carbon 4.
On the other hand, the other configuration provides a staggered structure (+stability, lower energy) and an anti structure (more +stability, lower energy).
I'm stumped. Thanks in advance, you wonderful people!
The task at hand is to draw a potential energy diagram for all of the conformations of 2-methylbutane. Normally, without that methyl subsitutent, this wouldn't be a big deal, but that's sorta screwed it for me. So, my question is this:
Is the conformation in which the methyl group and carbon 1 eclipse the hydrogens on carbon three lower or higher in energy than the conformation in which carbon 1 is anti to carbon 4 and the methyl group is staggered between carbon 4 and one of carbon 3's hydrogen?
On the one hand, the first option provides more steric interactions between carbon 3's hydrogens and carbon 1 and the methyl group. Yet, in this conformation, Carbon 1 and the methyl group are furthest from carbon 4.
On the other hand, the other configuration provides a staggered structure (+stability, lower energy) and an anti structure (more +stability, lower energy).
I'm stumped. Thanks in advance, you wonderful people!
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