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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Organic Chemistry Forum for Graduate Students and Professionals => Topic started by: eric123 on April 11, 2012, 12:14:18 PM

Title: Pericyclic reactions...
Post by: eric123 on April 11, 2012, 12:14:18 PM
Hello...A couple of weeks ago, i had a homework, wherein it was asked as to why is dewar benzene so stable at room temperature???....the answer that i found was that the dewar benzene if underwent an electrocyclic reaction, it would lead to the formation of benzen with a trans double bond which is actually thermodynamically unfavourable....
this is exactly the point i dont understand...why is a trans double bond in rings less than 8-membered rings so unstable or unfavourable????...I would be thankful if anyone can help me out with a good explanation....thanks...
Title: Re: Pericyclic reactions...
Post by: Dan on April 11, 2012, 12:25:32 PM
Try to make a model of trans-cyclohexene, the reason for its instability will quickly become clear.