Why are equatorial bonds perfectly parallel to ring bonds?
1 Answer
Oct 25, 2015
Equatorial bonds are parallel to ring bonds because of the staggered arrangement of the bonds in a cyclohexane chair.
It may be easier to see this if you look at a Newman projection for cyclohexane.
(from img.sparknotes.com)
Let's say that the lower arrow points to
Then
The equatorial
I have highlighted those bonds below to highlight the parallel bonds.
(adapted from img.sparknotes.com)