Organic Chemistry : Organic Concepts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Organic Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #72 : Organic Functional Groups

Name this compound according to IUPAC naming conventions:

Screen121

Possible Answers:

2-hydroxy-3-iodo-3-phenylpropanamide

2-hydroxy-3-iodo-3-Benzylpropanamide

2-hydroxy-1-iodo-1-phenylpropan-3-amide

3-Benzyl-2-hydroxy-3-iodopropanamide

1-iodo-1-phenyl-2-hydroxypropan-3-amide

Correct answer:

2-hydroxy-3-iodo-3-phenylpropanamide

Explanation:

When naming an organic compound by the IUPAC, it's best to first start by identifying the functional groups present.

In this particular case we have:

 

An amide group:

Screen122

An alcohol (hydroxy) group:

Screen123

An iodine (Iodo) group:

Screen124

and A phenyl group:

Screen125

Next, we should identify what functional group has the highest priority, as that will form the base name of the compound:

 

According to IUPAC convention, Carboxylic Acid derivatives including amides have the highest priority then carbonyls then alcohols, amines, alkenes (this priority is shared with phenyl groups), alkynes, and alkanes, so in this case the amide group has the highest priority and therefore makes up the name of the base compound.

Next, we want to number the longest carbon chain with the highest priority functional group with the lowest number. In this case this means we want the carbonyl carbon on the amide to be carbon number #1 as it has the highest priority, so let's start there and number the carbon chain.

 

You should get something like this:

Screen126

 

 

Now that we have numbered the carbon chain we can begin our naming.

Let's start with the base name:

According to IUPAC convention the base name for an amide requires us to name the chain and then put amide after it. In this case the base name becomes propanamide.

Next since there is only one way to number this with the amide being on carbon #1, the hydroxy group is on carbon. This gives us 2-hydroxypropanamide.

 

Finally, on carbon #3 we have two substituents: An iodo group and a benzene group. The IUPAC name for a benzene group substituent is phenyl, so now let's order the substituents alphabetically to get our final name of the compound, which is 2-hydroxy-3-iodo-3-phenylpropanamide.

Now let’s look at the wrong answers:

1) 2-hydroxy-3-iodo-3-Benzylpropanamide is wrong because Benzyl is the common name of a benzene substituent, not the IUPAC name. The IUPAC name is phenyl. It is also wrong because the substituents aren't organized alphabetically in the compound name.

2) 3-Benzyl-2-hydroxy-3-iodopropanamide is wrong because Benzyl is the common name of a benzene substituent, not the IUPAC name. The IUPAC name is phenyl.

3) 2-hydroxy-1-iodo-1-phenylpropan-3-amide is wrong because according to IUPAC rules the highest priority group, which is the amide, should have the lowest number on the carbon chain available, which is carbon #1 not 3.

4) 1-iodo-1-phenyl-2-hydroxypropan-3-amide is wrong because according to IUPAC rules the highest priority group, which is the amide, should have the lowest number on the carbon chain available, which is carbon #1 not 3. It is also wrong because the substituents aren't organized alphabetically in the compound name.

Example Question #241 : Organic Chemistry

Img 0640

Identify the main functional groups in the pictured molecule.

Possible Answers:

Phenol, amine, ketone

Benzene, imine, aldehyde

Benzene, amide, aldehyde

Phenol, imine, ketone

Correct answer:

Benzene, imine, aldehyde

Explanation:

Img 0641

1. Benzene

2. Imine

3. Aldehyde

Example Question #81 : Organic Functional Groups And Molecules

Which of the following transformations includes an enolate intermediate?

 Q12

Possible Answers:

III only

II and III

I and II

I, II, and III

I and III

Correct answer:

II and III

Explanation:

Enolates are formed by an oxygen anion bound to an alkene carbon. Reactions II and III include an enolate intermediate, as shown in the mechanisms below, whereas reaction I is a simple SN2 reaction and does not include an enolate intermediate. Enolates are highlighted in red. 

A12

Example Question #381 : Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, And Metabolism

Which of the following carbocation intermediates requires the least activation energy?

Possible Answers:

Carbo2

Carbo4

Cannot be determined

Carbo3

Carbo1

Correct answer:

Carbo1

Explanation:

The more stable the carbocation, the lower the activation energy for reaching that intermediate will be. The more substituted a carbocation is, the more stable it is. The carbocation bonded to three alkanes (tertiary carbocation) is the most stable, and thus the correct answer.

Secondary carbocations will require more energy than tertiary, and primary carbocations will require the most energy.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Carbocations

Rank the following carbocations from least to most stable.


Q11

Possible Answers:

V < I < IV < II < III

I < V < IV < II < III

I < V < IV < III < II

V < IV < III < II < I

V < IV < I < III < II

Correct answer:

I < V < IV < III < II

Explanation:

You many know that primary carbocations are less stable than secondary, which are in turn less stable than tertiary carbocations. This holds true in this question, and as such, V < IV. To evaluate compounds I, II, and III, however, we will need to determine their resonance capabilities.

We can compare the two special secondary carbocations, II and III—a benzyl carbocation and an allyl carbocation, respectively. The structure of these cations allow for the positive charge to be shared over several atoms via resonance as shown below:

A11

We can see that the benzyl carbocation (II) is more stable than the allyl carbocation (III), as all its resonance forms have a secondary carbocation, and there are more resonance forms. As both share charge over multiple atoms, both are more stable than IV and V, which place charge on one atom only. Thus far, we can say: V < VI < III < II.

Lastly, we must consider I, a vinylic carbocation. This cation puts its negative charge on an sp2-hybridized carbon, and is the only example of this situation. Because an sp2 orbital has more overall s- character than an sp3 orbital, electrons are held closer to the nucleus. As the electrons feel more positive charge from the nucleus, the atom can accommodate more negative charge in general. We can think of this as a shift towards more electronegative behavior. As such, a positive charge will be more unstable on an sp2-hybridized carbon than on an sp3-hybridized carbon, and we can conclude than I is the least stable of all choices.

Thus, the correct answer is I < V < IV < III < II.

Example Question #243 : Organic Chemistry

Under which reaction mechanism can rearrangements occur?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Rearrangements generally require carbocations. Carbocations are only formed under mechanisms with unimolecular rate-limiting steps (i.e. carbocation formation).  reactions are unimolecular, involve carbocation intermediates, and therefore can undergo rearrangement. 

Example Question #82 : Organic Functional Groups And Molecules

A researcher wants to convert the given molecule's ketone group into a tertiary alcohol. Select the correct order of steps she must take to produce a tertiary alcohol at the ketone, but leave the aldehyde intact.

Q10

Possible Answers:

MeMgBr + H+

MeMgBr + H+ + ethane-1,2-diol

Ethane-1,2-diol + MeMgBr + H+ and heat

2 MeMgBr + H+

Ethane-1,2-diol + H+ and heat + MeMgBr

Correct answer:

Ethane-1,2-diol + MeMgBr + H+ and heat

Explanation:

An aldehyde is more electrophilic than a ketone, so to do chemistry on the ketone, we must protect the aldehyde. A common protecting group for aldehydes and ketones is ethane-1,2-diol, as it forms a meta-stable five-membered acetal, which can be hydrolyzed to produce the original aldehyde or ketone by applying heat and acid.

As shown in the scheme below, which corresponds to the correct answer choice, once the aldehyde is protected, then the ketone can be reacted with the Grignard MeMgBr reagent to add a methyl group at the carbonyl. An acid workup removes the protecting group to reveal the original aldehyde, and affords the desired tertiary alcohol. 

A10a

 

The schemes below illustrate why each of the other answer choices is wrong, as no other sequence will produce the desired product:

 

A10b

Example Question #1 : Biological Molecules

Which of the following lipids is polyunsaturated?

I. (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid

II. Octadecanoic acid

III. (9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid

IV. (9Z)-9-Octadecenoic acid

Possible Answers:

II and III

I and IV

II only

I and III

I, III, and IV

Correct answer:

I and III

Explanation:

This question tests your knowledge of what an unsaturated lipid is, as well as your ability to obtain structural information from IUPAC names.

Firstly, a polyunsaturated lipid is a long carboxylic acid hydrocarbon chain that features multiple unsaturations, or double bonds. Remember from nomenclature that the stem "-en" indicates double bonds, or alkenes, while "-an" indicates alkanes, or fully saturated hydrocarbons. The relevant stems in the answer choices are italicized below:

I. (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid

II. Octadecanoic acid

III. (9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid

IV. (9Z)-9-Octadecenoic acid

 

As you can see, "trien" and "dien" in I and III indicate these lipids are polyunsaturated, while "an" in II indicates a fully saturated lipid and "en" in IV indicates a monounsaturation. The lipids are drawn below as well, with the alkenes in polyunsaturated lipids circled in red, and the alkene in the monounsaturated lipid circled in green.

 

A4

Example Question #1 : Identification By Structure

What is the name of the pictured fatty acid? 

Arachidonic acid

Possible Answers:

Linoleic acid

Palmitoleic acid

Oleic acid

Eicosapentaenoic acid

Arachidonic acid

Correct answer:

Arachidonic acid

Explanation:

The pictured structure represents arachidonic acid due to the 20-carbon carboxylic acid chain with characteristic unsaturated (double) bonds after carbons 5, 8, 11, and 14.

Example Question #2 : Biological Molecules

Other than the traditional numerical system, the X marking the terminal carbon in the structure shown here can be labeled how?

Linoleic acid x

Possible Answers:

Alpha-18

Omega-1

Gamma-18

Alpha-1

Omega-18

Correct answer:

Omega-1

Explanation:

Fatty acids can be labeled numerically from 1-X, or they can be labeled in reverse starting with omega-1 as the terminal carbon.

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