Chapter 4, Problem 42PP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The relative energy levels of the three staggered conformations of 2,3-dimethylbutane are needed to be find out.

Concept introduction:

Conformers arise due to the free rotation of $\text{C}-\text{C}$ bond. This rotation are measured by dihedral angle, it is the angle between two atoms attached to two different carbons of $\text{C}-\text{C}$ rotation in Newman projection.

The least energy occupied conformer is called staggered conformer, which are having a dihedral angle of ‘60’ degree.

Newman projection: Newman projection of molecule is one type of representations for the alkanes, where the projection visualization from one carbon to another carbon. In this Newman projection, front carbon which represented as dot is called proximal and the back carbon which represented as circle is called distal.

The atoms attached to the two carbons of $\text{C}-\text{C}$ renders the energy levels of staggered conformers.