ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
LESSON 4
Rings, Chairs, and Ring Strain
Why isn’t cyclohexane flat, and why are some chair conformations more stable than others? In this lesson, we’ll explore the three-dimensional structure of cyclohexane, learn how to draw and perform chair flips, and distinguish axial and equatorial substituents. We’ll then connect these ideas to steric strain, 1,3-diaxial interactions, and the ring strain found in smaller cycloalkanes.
Finished watching? Start with the Knowledge Checkpoint, then move on to the Challenge Problems.
Lecture Notes
Follow Cole's notes in a downloadable, printable format.
Knowledge Checkpoint
Make sure the central concepts have clicked.
Challenge Problems
Apply the concepts in less familiar situations.