A student is studying four C₄ hydrocarbons shown below
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · A Level · Chemistry · Introduction to organic chemistry · Introduction to organic chemistry
Problem
A student is studying four C₄ hydrocarbons shown below, each drawn as a condensed structural formula at the level of connectivity only (no stereochemical information is provided).
(a) For each of the four compounds, state whether geometric isomerism is possible. Organize your answer in a clearly labeled table.
(b) For every compound you identified as capable of geometric isomerism, draw the complete set of geometric isomers, using conventional E/Z or cis/trans notation as appropriate.
(c) Provide a brief justification for one compound that can form geometric isomers and one compound that cannot, explicitly relating your reasoning to the identity and arrangement of substituents about the carbon–carbon multiple bond.