Conformational Analysis (English)

Conformations or rotamers of acyclic or cyclic compounds are different arrangements of atoms due to free-rotation between C-C sigma bonds. These conformers are very important because they can dictate the products of a chemical reaction. All molecules are in constant motion and the chair conformation of cyclohexane is no different; thus, conformations involving the cyclohexane ring, which is a commonly encountered ring system in the study of organic chemistry, are also examined to help the student better understand the outcomes of reactions. The beginning student will want to master drawing acylic conformers as well the more challenging pairs of chairs, which will prove to be very useful when predicting product formations and will help rationalize various proposed reaction mechanisms.