What is the most stable conformer for 3-methylpentane, viewed along the #C_2-C_3# bond using Newman projections?

1 Answer
Feb 6, 2015

The most stable conformer for 3-methylpentane viewed along the #C_2 - C_3# bond will have the ethyl group anti to a methyl group, with a methyl - methyl gauche interaction.

So, start with the bond line notation for 3-methylpentane

http://www.introorganicchemistry.com/stereochemistry.html

Notice that you have two hydrogens and a methyl group attached to #C_2#, and one hydrogen, one methyl, and one ethyl group attached to #C_3#.

Start by placing these groups on a Newman projection template. The #C_2# carbon will be in the front and the #C_3# carbon will be in the back, which will result in

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Projection 1

All the groups are accounted for: two hydrogen atoms and a methyl group connected to #C_2# and a methyl group, a hydrogen atom and an ethyl group connected to #C_3#.

In order to determine which staggered projection will describe the most stable conformer, you need to draw the other two as well - you do this by rotating the front carbon by #"120"^@#.

Projection 2 and Projection 3

The most stable conformer has the fewest gauche interactions. The first projection will have two methyl groups in anti positon and a gauche interaction between two methyl groups.

Projection 2 will have two methyl groups in anti postition as well, but this time you have gauche interaction between a methyl and an ethyl group, which is less stable because of the greater repulsion between these two groups.

Projection 3 will be the least stable of the group, since you have gauche interactions between two methyl groups and an ethyl group.

As a conclusion, projection 1 represents the most stable conformer for 3-methylpentane viewed along the #C_2-C_3# bond.