Question

Based on Saytzeff's rule, select the most stable alkene: 1-methylcyclohexene, 3-methylcyclohexene or 4-methylcyclohexene?

Answer 1

The most stable alkene is 1-methylcyclohexene.

Explanation:

The structures of the three compounds are

The most stable alkene is the one that is the most highly substituted.

Structure 1 is trisubstituted. The substituents are `"CH"_3, "C-3"`, and `"C-6"`.

Structure 2 is disubstituted. The substituents are `"C-1"` and `"C-4"`.

Structure 3 is disubstituted. The substituents are `"C-2"` and `"C-5"`.
.

So the most stable alkene is Structure 1: 1-methylcyclohexene.