IChO 1980 · Theory problem 4

Organic chemistry, stereochemistry: an acid C5H8O2, its hydrogenation and bromination

(Organic chemistry, stereochemistry)

Carbonic acid A with an overall formula of \(\ce{C5H8O2}\) yields two geometric isomers, cis (A') and trans (A''). On hydrogenation with \(\ce{Pt/H2}\) the same racemic carboxyl acid B is obtained from both stereoisomers that can be separated into enantiomers (+)-B and (-)-B.

A' and A'' rapidly react with one mole of bromine in \(\ce{CCl4}\) in the dark at 20 °C to yield C.

Problems:

4.1 What is the constitution of A and B?

4.2 Write the stereo formulae for A' and A'' and the Fischer projection formulae for the enantiomer B (not considering the signs (+) or (-)).

4.3 How many stereo isomers of C are simultaneously formed when A' and A'' are treated with bromine?

4.4 Briefly, give reasons for your answer to c).

4.5 Write the Fischer projection formulae and one Newman projection formula (conformation) for all the stereoisomers of C. Denote those that are mutually enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

For the \(A'/A''\) labels below, cis/trans refers to the two methyl groups.

  • 4.1: A is 2-methylbut-2-enoic acid, CC=C(C)C(=O)O. B is 2-methylbutanoic acid, CCC(C)C(=O)O.
  • 4.2: \(A'\) is (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid, O=C(O)/C(C)=C/C; \(A''\) is (Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid, O=C(O)/C(C)=C\C. The enantiomers of B are (R)-2-methylbutanoic acid, O=C(O)[C@H](C)CC, and (S)-2-methylbutanoic acid, O=C(O)[C@@H](C)CC. Their projections are specified below.
  • 4.3: Two enantiomers from each pure alkene; four stereoisomers altogether. The \(E\) alkene gives \((2R,3S)/(2S,3R)\), and the \(Z\) alkene gives \((2R,3R)/(2S,3S)\).
  • 4.4: Bromination is stereospecific anti addition. The product has two stereogenic centers and no meso form; each alkene gives a racemic pair.
  • 4.5: The four products are stereoisomers of 2,3-dibromo-2-methylbutanoic acid, O=C(O)C(Br)(C)C(Br)C. Their stereochemical SMILES, Fischer projections, and Newman conformations are tabulated below. The enantiomeric pairs are \((2R,3S)/(2S,3R)\) and \((2R,3R)/(2S,3S)\); every pairing between these two pairs is diastereomeric.

Solution

4.1 — Identification of A and B

The degree of unsaturation of A is

\[ \mathrm{DBE}=\frac{2(5)+2-8}{2}=2. \]

The carboxyl carbonyl accounts for one degree of unsaturation. The geometric isomerism and rapid bromine-addition reaction identify an alkene double bond as the other, in the intended alkene chemistry of this problem.

Hydrogenation gives a saturated acid of formula \(\ce{C5H10O2}\). Its resolvability into enantiomers requires a stereogenic center. With only five carbon atoms, the required four different substituents are carboxyl, ethyl, methyl, and hydrogen. Thus B is 2-methylbutanoic acid, CCC(C)C(=O)O:

\[ \ce{HOOC-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH3}. \]

Restoring a double bond to this carbon skeleton must produce an alkene with two different substituents on each double-bond carbon. This places the double bond between C2 and C3:

\[ \ce{HOOC-C(CH3)=CH-CH3}. \]

Therefore A is 2-methylbut-2-enoic acid, CC=C(C)C(=O)O.

Hydrogenation with molecular hydrogen, [H][H], over platinum is balanced as

\[ \ce{HOOC-C(CH3)=CH-CH3 + H2 ->[Pt] HOOC-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH3}. \]

C3 becomes a methylene group, so the original geometric distinction disappears. C2 becomes stereogenic; hydrogenation in an achiral environment gives equal amounts of the two enantiomers of B from either alkene.

4.2 — Geometric structures of A and Fischer projections of B

Number the carboxyl carbon C1. To specify the alkene drawings, place C2 on the left and C3 on the right, joined by a horizontal double bond. Place the substituents above and below it as follows:

Form Name and stereochemical SMILES Above C2; above C3 Below C2; below C3
\(A'\), methyl groups cis (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid, O=C(O)/C(C)=C/C \(\ce{COOH}\); \(\ce{H}\) \(\ce{CH3}\); \(\ce{CH3}\)
\(A''\), methyl groups trans (Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid, O=C(O)/C(C)=C\C \(\ce{COOH}\); \(\ce{CH3}\) \(\ce{CH3}\); \(\ce{H}\)

For the \(E/Z\) assignments, the higher-priority substituent is \(\ce{COOH}\) at C2 and \(\ce{CH3}\) at C3. Consequently, cis methyl groups correspond to \(E\), whereas trans methyl groups correspond to \(Z\).

For the Fischer projections of B, put \(\ce{COOH}\) at the top and \(\ce{CH2CH3}\) at the bottom. Horizontal bonds point toward the viewer; vertical bonds point away.

Enantiomer Left substituent Right substituent Stereochemical SMILES
(R)-2-methylbutanoic acid \(\ce{H}\) \(\ce{CH3}\) O=C(O)[C@H](C)CC
(S)-2-methylbutanoic acid \(\ce{CH3}\) \(\ce{H}\) O=C(O)[C@@H](C)CC

The priority order is

\[ \ce{COOH}>\ce{CH2CH3}>\ce{CH3}>\ce{H}. \]

These projections are mirror images. Their \(R/S\) configurations do not determine which has positive or negative optical rotation.

4.3 — Number of bromination products

Bromine, BrBr, adds across the double bond in carbon tetrachloride, ClC(Cl)(Cl)Cl, in the dark at \(20\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\):

\[ \ce{HOOC-C(CH3)=CH-CH3 + Br2 -> HOOC-C(Br)(CH3)-CH(Br)-CH3}. \]

Thus one mole of A consumes one mole of bromine. The product C is 2,3-dibromo-2-methylbutanoic acid, O=C(O)C(Br)(C)C(Br)C, with formula \(\ce{C5H8Br2O2}\).

Both C2 and C3 are stereogenic. The product has no internal symmetry that could produce a meso form, so its total number of stereoisomers is

\[ 2^2=\boxed{4}. \]

Stereospecific anti addition gives:

Starting alkene Products
\(A_E\), here \(A'\) \((2R,3S)\) and \((2S,3R)\), in equal amounts
\(A_Z\), here \(A''\) \((2R,3R)\) and \((2S,3S)\), in equal amounts

Therefore, each separately brominated geometric isomer gives two stereoisomers, while bromination of a mixture containing both gives all four. The relative amounts of the two racemic pairs depend on the starting mixture.

4.4 — Reasons for the stereochemical outcome

Under the stated conditions, electrophilic bromination is anti addition: the two new carbon–bromine bonds form on opposite faces of the original double bond.

For either planar alkene, the two mirror-related addition pathways are equally probable in the achiral reaction environment. They therefore give equal amounts of two enantiomers.

Changing the starting alkene from \(E\) to \(Z\) changes the relative configuration produced by anti addition, giving the other enantiomeric pair. No product is meso because the two stereogenic centers have different substituent sets: C2 bears a carboxyl group and a methyl group, whereas C3 bears a hydrogen and a methyl group.

4.5 — Fischer projections, Newman projections, and relationships

For every Fischer projection of C, draw the vertical backbone in this order:

\[ \ce{COOH}\quad\text{at the top},\qquad \mathrm{C2},\qquad \mathrm{C3},\qquad \ce{CH3}\quad\text{at the bottom}. \]

The table specifies every horizontal substituent. As usual, horizontal bonds point toward the viewer and vertical bonds point away.

Stereoisomer of 2,3-dibromo-2-methylbutanoic acid C2: left / right C3: left / right Stereochemical SMILES
\((2R,3S)\) \(\ce{Br}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) \(\ce{Br}\) / \(\ce{H}\) O=C(O)[C@](Br)(C)[C@@H](Br)C
\((2S,3R)\) \(\ce{CH3}\) / \(\ce{Br}\) \(\ce{H}\) / \(\ce{Br}\) O=C(O)[C@@](Br)(C)[C@H](Br)C
\((2R,3R)\) \(\ce{Br}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) \(\ce{H}\) / \(\ce{Br}\) O=C(O)[C@](Br)(C)[C@H](Br)C
\((2S,3S)\) \(\ce{CH3}\) / \(\ce{Br}\) \(\ce{Br}\) / \(\ce{H}\) O=C(O)[C@@](Br)(C)[C@@H](Br)C

The configuration assignments use these priority orders:

\[ \begin{aligned} \mathrm{C2}:&\quad \ce{Br}>\ce{CH(Br)CH3}>\ce{COOH}>\ce{CH3},\\ \mathrm{C3}:&\quad \ce{Br}>\ce{C(Br)(CH3)COOH}>\ce{CH3}>\ce{H}. \end{aligned} \]

At C2, the neighboring brominated carbon outranks the carboxyl carbon because its attached-atom list begins with bromine, which outranks oxygen.

For the Newman projections, look from C2 toward C3, with C2 represented by the front dot and C3 by the rear circle. Use clock positions as seen by the viewer:

  • Front bonds occupy 12, 4, and 8 o’clock.
  • Rear bonds occupy 2, 6, and 10 o’clock.

The following table specifies one staggered conformation for each stereoisomer:

Configuration Front C2: 12 / 4 / 8 o’clock Rear C3: 2 / 6 / 10 o’clock
\((2R,3S)\) \(\ce{COOH}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) / \(\ce{Br}\) \(\ce{Br}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) / \(\ce{H}\)
\((2S,3R)\) \(\ce{COOH}\) / \(\ce{Br}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) \(\ce{H}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) / \(\ce{Br}\)
\((2R,3R)\) \(\ce{COOH}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) / \(\ce{Br}\) \(\ce{H}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) / \(\ce{Br}\)
\((2S,3S)\) \(\ce{COOH}\) / \(\ce{Br}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) \(\ce{Br}\) / \(\ce{CH3}\) / \(\ce{H}\)

These clock positions specify conformations, which the stereochemical SMILES do not encode. Rotation about the C2–C3 single bond changes the conformation without changing configuration; “anti addition” describes the reaction’s addition faces.

The enantiomeric pairs are

\[ \boxed{(2R,3S)\ \longleftrightarrow\ (2S,3R)} \]

and

\[ \boxed{(2R,3R)\ \longleftrightarrow\ (2S,3S)}. \]

Each member of the first pair is diastereomeric with each member of the second pair.

The solution was checked against the official solution.