McMurry indicates that the gauche conformation (60 dihedral angle) of butane results in steric strain because of repulsion between the two methyl groups (p 96). a. Would the magnitude of this steric strain increase or decrease if the dihedral angle was increased from 60 to 65 degrees? b. Would the magnitude of this steric strain between these two gauche methyl groups increase or decrease if the C1-C2-C3 (or C2-C3-C4) bond angle increased to more than 109.5?

Question

McMurry indicates that the gauche conformation (60 ￼ dihedral angle) of butane results in steric strain because of repulsion between the two methyl groups (p 96). a. Would the magnitude of this steric strain increase or decrease if the dihedral angle was increased from 60 ￼ to 65 degrees? b. Would the magnitude of this steric strain between these two gauche methyl groups increase or decrease if the C1-C2-C3 (or C2-C3-C4) bond angle increased to more than 109.5?

aaronq · Answer

draw it and see what it looks like