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maverick280857
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Hi
In the Sebastier Senderen hydrogenation of alkenes, the general rule is that the more stable the alkene, the less reactive it is (the stability being assessed by the degree of hyperconjugation in the alkene). The decreasing order of reactivity as told to us in class is:
ethylene > 1-propene > 2-butene > 3-methyl but-2-ene > 2,3-dimethyl but-2-ene
The problem arises when the stability and reactivity of butenes is considered. One source says that vanderwalls strain is a destabilizing factor when alkyl groups are cis to each other. Hence, according to this source, the order of stability is
isobutene > trans-2-butene > cis-2-butene > 1-butene
However, in class the order of stability given to us is,
trans-2-butene > isobutene > cis-2-butene
Can someone tell me which is correct?
Thanks and cheers,
Vivek
In the Sebastier Senderen hydrogenation of alkenes, the general rule is that the more stable the alkene, the less reactive it is (the stability being assessed by the degree of hyperconjugation in the alkene). The decreasing order of reactivity as told to us in class is:
ethylene > 1-propene > 2-butene > 3-methyl but-2-ene > 2,3-dimethyl but-2-ene
The problem arises when the stability and reactivity of butenes is considered. One source says that vanderwalls strain is a destabilizing factor when alkyl groups are cis to each other. Hence, according to this source, the order of stability is
isobutene > trans-2-butene > cis-2-butene > 1-butene
However, in class the order of stability given to us is,
trans-2-butene > isobutene > cis-2-butene
Can someone tell me which is correct?
Thanks and cheers,
Vivek
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