Question

In their flat configurations, is cyclopentane or cyclopentanone more stable and why?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

In the flat configuration of cyclopentane, there is an angle strain which makes the molecule be little unstable. In the case of flat cyclopentane configuration, the bond angle is around 107^o which is approximately close to the normal tetrahedral bond angle.

To make the molecule free from angle strain, the cyclopentane or cyclopentanone adapted envelop form which is much lesser angle strain in the molecule. Hence the envelop structure of cyclopentane is more stable than that of the flat configuration.

But however, there is no steric strain in the cyclopentane molecule.