Question

The greater stability of trans-but-2-ene over cis-but-2-ene can be explained on the basis of hyperconjugation effect.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is B False

The trans isomer of $2-butene$ is exactly 1.0 kcal/mol more stable than the cis isomer because of a steric effect. That is, in the $cis-but-2-ene$, one of the hydrogens on one methyl group is closer to a hydrogen on the second methyl group than the sums of the van der Waals radii of two hydrogen atoms makes it less stable.