Organic Chemistry : Organic Chemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Organic Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Predicting Benzene Orientation

1

What is the product of the given reaction?

Possible Answers:

2

5

4

3

6

Correct answer:

5

Explanation:

This is a trick question on Friedal-Craft alkylation. If you didn't pick the starting material, that is because you forgot the rule that alkylation cannot happen on a highly deactivated aromatic ring. Since  is a highly deactivating group the answer is no reaction, or:

5

Example Question #14 : Benzene Additions

What is the product for the following reaction?

Screen shot 2015 10 27 at 10.58.21 pm

Possible Answers:

Screen shot 2015 10 24 at 10.11.01 am


Screen shot 2015 10 27 at 10.58.15 pm

Screen shot 2015 10 24 at 10.10.53 am

Screen shot 2015 10 24 at 10.10.57 am


Screen shot 2015 10 27 at 10.58.12 pm

Correct answer:


Screen shot 2015 10 27 at 10.58.15 pm

Explanation:

While both the bromide and the alkyl group are ortho/para directing groups, the alkyl group is more activating and therefore the carbonyl will be added ortho to that substituent. The  and  work to reduce the carbonyl to an .

Example Question #371 : Organic Chemistry

Predict the product of the given reaction.

Screen shot 2015 12 26 at 9.13.35 pm

Possible Answers:

II

IV

I

III

Correct answer:

IV

Explanation:

This is an example of a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction, where an acyl group (an alkyl group with a carbonyl  group) is added at the carbonyl carbon (shown below). Aluminum chloride is used as a catalyst in this reaction.Screen shot 2015 12 26 at 10.36.31 pm

Example Question #372 : Organic Chemistry

What is the product of the reaction shown?

Screen shot 2015 12 26 at 9.13.59 pm

Possible Answers:

IV

II

I

III

Correct answer:

II

Explanation:

This reaction is known as a nitration reaction, in which a nitro group ( group) is added to an aromatic ring. Nitric acid is used because this reaction occurs in an acidic solution.

Example Question #1 : Isomers

Which of the following lists the product(s) of the presented reaction?

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Possible Answers:

Both trans and cis-1-4-dimethylcyclohexane

None of the other answers is correct.

Only cis-1-4-dimethylcyclohexane

Only trans-1-4-dimethylcyclohexane

Methylcyclohexane

Correct answer:

Both trans and cis-1-4-dimethylcyclohexane

Explanation:

Hydrogen and a catalyst like paladium reduce the double bond to a single bond. There is no equal steric hinderance on each side. The hydrogen can bond from either side. That means the methyl group can either be oriented into the page or out of the page. One form is cis, and one form is trans.

Example Question #1 : Help With Cis Trans Isomers

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II.Untitled

III.Untitled

Which of the given molecules is(are) chiral?

Possible Answers:

I and III

II and III

I only

I, II, and III

I and II

Correct answer:

I and III

Explanation:

For a molecule to be chiral, it must have a stereocenter and no axis of symmetry. An atom with a stereocenter has no identical bonds; it is a carbon atom with four unique substituents. There are two stereocenters in each of the three molecules. Notice that if you take the second molecule and draw a line connecting the top carbon and the point between the the two carbons with hydroxy groups, it has an axis of symmetry and therefore cannot be chiral. There is no way to draw that axis of symmetry for molecules one and three.

Example Question #1 : Isomers

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How many stereocenters does the given molecule have?

Possible Answers:

Five

Four

Three

Two

One

Correct answer:

Two

Explanation:

A stereocenter exists when the central atom is bound to four unique substituents. In the given molecule, the carbons are numbers from left to right. Carbons 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8 are all bound to at least two hydrogen atoms and cannot be stereocenters. Similarly, the carbons in the two methyl groups (bound to C4 and C7) do not qualify as stereocenters. Carbon 7 has two identical methyl substituents. This leaves only C2 and C4. The molecule has two stereocenters.

Example Question #371 : Organic Chemistry

What is the IUPAC name of the molecule shown?

Screen shot 2015 11 09 at 5.27.40 pm

Possible Answers:

E-pent-3-enoic acid

Z-5-carboxy-2-pentene

E-5-carboxy-2-pentene

Z-pent-3-enoic acid 

Correct answer:

Z-pent-3-enoic acid 

Explanation:

Carboxylic acid is highest priority, so carbon chain labelled from right to left. Since highest priority groups are on the same side of the double bond, it's given the "Z" designation.

Example Question #12 : Isomerism And Stereoisomers

How many stereoisomers would be obtained by the hydrogenation of compound C?

Mcat_1

Possible Answers:

Three

Zero

Four

Two

One

Correct answer:

Two

Explanation:

The hydrogenation of compound C would add two hydrogen atoms across the double bond, but would generate only one new stereocenter. This stereocenter would be found on the third carbon in the chain (from the right), which would be bound to the phenyl substituent, a methyl group, a hydrogen atom, and the remaining branched carbon chain.

The hydrogenation reaction would create a racemic mixture of both possible orientations of this stereocenter, with both enantiomers present in equal amounts. There would this be two stereoisomer products obtained from the hydrogenation of compound C.

Example Question #2 : Isomers

How many stereoisomers are possible for the compound 2,3,4-trimethylpentane?

Possible Answers:

Five

One

Four

Three

Two

Correct answer:

One

Explanation:

2,3,4-trimethylpentane does not contain any stereocenters. The structure is a five-carbon chain, with the end carbons bonded to three hydrogens each. The three central carbons each carry a methyl group and a hydrogen atom.

Remember that a stereocenter is only present when a carbon is bound to four different substituents. The 2 and 4 carbons both have two methyl groups (the end carbons and the added groups), so they would contain a plane of symmetry and would not be stereocenters. Likewise, a plane of symmetry exists at the 3 carbon; the substituents toward the 1 carbon and 5 carbon are the same. This compound, therefore, would have no stereocenters and could only exist as one stereoisomer.

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