Question

Even though the rings are different size, cyclopropane and cyclobutane have similar overall strain energy. This is because:

• A. they have similar angle compression from the optimal ${109.5}^{\circ }$
• B. strain energy is a kinetic phenomenon
• C. cyclobutane has more eclipsing interactions but less angle strain
• D. cyclopropane has a larger overall heat of combustion than cyclobutane

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

cyclobutane has more eclipsing interactions but less angle strain

Even though the rings are different size,cyclopropane and cyclobutane have similar overall strain energy. This is because cyclobutane has more eclipsing interactions than cyclopropane but less angle strain.