Which stereoisomer configuration would be more stable, the z configuration or the e configuration?
I tried searching for this, but I only got answers for cis/trans instead of e/z. Can anyone help with it? ty
In my ignorance about organic chemistry, I was under the impression that e was trans and z was cis. (z for zusammen and e for entgegen, z same side and e for opposite).
My German could be improved. I think zusammen is for together but cis and z go together.
Yes lol, z (together) and e (opposite), cis trans is limited to when there are many different substituted groups. But the problem I am have, is that I need to know which configuration is more stable from the e-z? As the more stable compound exists in a greater quantity
I think my point was(is) that if you can find sites that distinguish between cis and trans as to the stability, it should apply to e and z as well.
I can definitely help you with that! The terms "e" and "z" are used to describe the configuration of stereoisomers in organic chemistry. They are used to determine the priority of substituents around a double bond.
To determine the stability between the e and z configurations, we first need to understand how to assign priorities.
Here are the steps to assign priorities using the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) rules:
1. Identify the four substituents attached to the double bond.
2. Assign a priority to each substituent based on its atomic number (higher atomic number = higher priority). If two substituents have the same atom bonded to the double bond, move to their next atoms until a difference is found.
3. If there is a tie, move to the next set of atoms until a difference is found.
4. Once you have assigned priorities to all substituents, compare the highest priority groups on each carbon of the double bond.
Now, coming back to your question about stability, it is important to note that the stability of different stereochemistry configurations largely depends on the specific molecules involved. However, there are some general trends that can be observed:
1. E Configuration: If the two highest priority substituents (with higher atomic numbers) are on opposite sides of the double bond, it is referred to as the "E" (from the German word "entgegen," meaning "opposite") configuration. In general, the E configuration tends to be more stable due to less steric hindrance between the substituents.
2. Z Configuration: If the two highest priority substituents are on the same side of the double bond, it is referred to as the "Z" (from the German word "zusammen," meaning "together") configuration. The Z configuration generally has more steric hindrance between the substituents, making it less stable than the E configuration.
To summarize, the E configuration is usually more stable than the Z configuration due to lower steric hindrance. However, it is always important to evaluate the specific molecules involved and consider other factors that may influence stability.