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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3st207

In butane, take these eclipsing increments: H/H = 4.0, CH/H = 6.0, CH/CH = 11 (all kJ/mol), and gauche CH/CH = 3.8 kJ/mol. A Newman projection along C2-C3 (C2 in front) shows front groups CH at 12, H at 4, H at 8 o'clock. Starting from the anti conformer (back CH at 6, H at 2, H at 10), the back carbon is rotated 60 clockwise. What is the energy of the resulting conformer relative to anti?

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

Answer: A

Rotating the back groups by 60 clockwise moves them from 6, 2, 10 to 8, 4, 12 o'clock. So back CH (8) eclipses front H (8), back H (4) eclipses front H (4), and back H (12) eclipses front CH (12). The CH-C-C-CH dihedral is 120. Energy kJ/mol. (19.0 would be the fully eclipsed 0 form with CH/CH eclipsed.)
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