What are the difference between a staggered, eclipsed, gauche and anti-conformation?

1 Answer
Jun 26, 2017

Consider the diagram, which depicts..........

Explanation:

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.........which depicts conformational isomers for #"n-butane"#....

The second line of the illustration gives the Newmann projections, where we look down the #C_2-C_3# axis. I say this a lot but such diagrams are NEVER a substitute for molecular models, which you can use in all examinations, but which require both nous and practice in representing their three-dimensional structure on the two-dimensional page.............hence both sawhorse and Newmann projections......

We would predict the eclipsed structure, where the methyl termini are each at 12 o'clock to be the high energy conformer.....

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There is a fairly soft energy of interchange between the conformers as shown in the given energy profile.