Biochemistry 2280A Lecture Notes - Substituent, Stereoisomerism, Chemical Formula

• School: Western University
• Department: Biochemistry
• Course: Biochemistry 2280A
• Professor: Mel Usselman

Document Summary

Organic chemistry key concepts: alkanes & cycloalkanes (usselman version) Straight or branched chain compounds of carbon and hydrogen are termed acyclic hydrocarbons or alkanes. Alkanes are unreactive as the electrons are perfectly balanced between the atoms and the carbon-carbon bonds are quite durable. Constitutional isomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula but different bonding sequences (properties). When drawing possible constitutional isomers, remember to concentrate on the. The dot-line-wedge is the most versatile, widely-used convention for the 3-dimensional drawing of molecules. Atoms in molecules always spin around bonds. Newman projections and fischer projections are also used extensively. Differing short-lived spatial arrangements of atoms, termed conformations, can result from the rapid rotation of atoms, or groups of atoms, about single bonds. Staggered conformations are of slightly lower energy than eclipsed ones. Conformations cannot normally be separated or isolated and are therefore not isomers. Hydrocarbons closed to form a ring are known as cycloalkanes.