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JEE Advanced levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 3 of 3st164

The dihedral angle between the two methyl groups of butane (viewed along C2-C3) is varied. Using H/H eclipsing 4.0, H/ eclipsing 6.0 and / eclipsing 11.0 kJ/mol, gauche 3.8 kJ/mol above anti, select the correct statements.

  1. AAt a dihedral angle of the energy is a local maximum at 16.0 kJ/mol above anti
  2. BAt the energy is the global maximum, 19.0 kJ/mol above anti
  3. CThe gauche conformer () is a local minimum 3.8 kJ/mol above anti
  4. DThe barrier for gauche to gauche conversion through the conformer is 19.0 kJ/mol

Answer: A, B, C

At the eclipsed pairs are CH3/H, H/CH3, H/H = 6.0 + 6.0 + 4.0 = 16.0 (local maximum). At they are CH3/CH3, H/H, H/H = 11.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 = 19.0 (global maximum). Gauche is a local minimum at 3.8. The gauche-to-gauche barrier is measured from a gauche conformer: 19.0 - 3.8 = 15.2 kJ/mol, so D is false.
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