Write a structural formula for each of the following compounds:
(a) 6-Isopropyl-2,3-dimethylnonane
(b) 4 -tert-Butyl-3-methylheptane
(c) 4-Isobutyl-1,1-dimethylcyclohexane
(d) sec-Butylcycloheptane
(e) Cyclobutylcyclopentane
The correct answer and explanation is:
Let’s break down each compound and construct their structural formulas:
(a) 6-Isopropyl-2,3-dimethylnonane
This compound has the following components:
- A nonane backbone (C9 chain)
- At position 6, there’s an isopropyl group (–CH(CH3)2)
- At positions 2 and 3, there are methyl groups (–CH3)
The structure can be represented as:
CH3-CH2-CH(CH3)-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH3
In this structure, the longest carbon chain is nine atoms long (nonane). At positions 2 and 3, there are methyl groups, and an isopropyl group is attached at position 6.
(b) 4-tert-Butyl-3-methylheptane
This compound has:
- A heptane backbone (C7 chain)
- A tert-butyl group (–C(C3H7)3) at position 4
- A methyl group (–CH3) at position 3
The structure would look like this:
CH3-CH(CH3)-CH(CH3)-C(C3H7)-CH2-CH3
In this structure, the heptane chain is modified by the tert-butyl group at position 4 and a methyl group at position 3.
(c) 4-Isobutyl-1,1-dimethylcyclohexane
This compound involves:
- A cyclohexane ring (C6H12)
- An isobutyl group (–CH2CH(CH3)2) at position 4
- Two methyl groups (–CH3) at position 1
The structure would be:
CH3
|
CH3-C-CH2-C6H10
|
CH2CH3
The cyclohexane ring has methyl groups at position 1 and an isobutyl group at position 4.
(d) sec-Butylcycloheptane
This compound consists of:
- A cycloheptane ring (C7H14)
- A sec-butyl group (–CH2CH(CH3)2) attached to the ring
The structure would be:
CH3
|
CH3-CH2-C-C7H12
|
CH2CH3
Here, the cycloheptane ring is attached to a sec-butyl group at one of its positions.
(e) Cyclobutylcyclopentane
This compound consists of:
- A cyclobutyl group (C4H7)
- A cyclopentane ring (C5H10)
The structure looks like this:
C4H7
|
C5H10-C
In this case, a cyclobutyl group is fused to a cyclopentane ring.
Explanation
The key to understanding these structures lies in interpreting the names based on IUPAC nomenclature, where the position and type of side groups (methyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, etc.) determine how they are attached to the parent chain or ring. A cycloalkane is a ring structure, and the functional groups or substituents are positioned according to their number in the name.
In the case of sec-butyl and isobutyl groups, these refer to branching arrangements that alter the structure of the main chain. The tert-butyl group is a highly branched form of butyl, and these arrangements help us determine the proper attachment points in the structure.