2-Acetoxycyclohexyl tosylate reacts with acetate ion to form 1,2-cyclohexanediol diacetate. The reaction is stereospecific—that is, the stereoisomers obtained as products depend on the stereoisomer used as a reactant. Recall that because 2-acetoxycyclohexyl tosylate has two asymmetric centers, it has four stereoisomers—two are cis and two are trans. Explain the following observations:
a. Both cis reactants form an optically active trans product, but each cis reactant forms a different trans product.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Analyze the structure of 2-acetoxycyclohexyl tosylate. It contains two asymmetric centers, making it possible to have four stereoisomers: two cis and two trans. Cis stereoisomers have substituents on the same side of the cyclohexane ring, while trans stereoisomers have substituents on opposite sides.
2. Step 2: Understand the reaction mechanism. The acetate ion (CH₃CH₂CO⁻) acts as a nucleophile and performs an SN2 reaction on the tosylate group. SN2 reactions are stereospecific, meaning the configuration at the reacting carbon is inverted during the reaction.
3. Step 3: Consider the stereochemistry of the cis reactants. In the cis configuration, the acetoxy group and the tosylate group are on the same side of the cyclohexane ring. When the acetate ion attacks, it inverts the configuration at the carbon where the tosylate group is attached, leading to a trans product.
4. Step 4: Explain why each cis reactant forms a different trans product. The two cis reactants differ in the configuration of the second asymmetric center (the carbon with the acetoxy group). This difference is preserved during the reaction, resulting in two distinct trans products that are optically active.
5. Step 5: Highlight the stereospecificity of the reaction. The stereospecific nature of the SN2 mechanism ensures that the stereochemistry of the reactants directly determines the stereochemistry of the products. This explains why both cis reactants form trans products, but each forms a different one.

Key Concepts

Stereochemistry

Stereochemistry is the study of the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules and how this affects their chemical behavior. In this reaction, the stereochemistry of the reactants influences the stereochemistry of the products, leading to different stereoisomers. Understanding the concepts of cis and trans isomerism is crucial, as it helps explain why different cis reactants yield different trans products.

Stereospecific Reactions

Stereospecific reactions are those in which the configuration of the reactant determines the configuration of the product. In this case, the reaction of 2-acetoxycyclohexyl tosylate with acetate ion is stereospecific, meaning that the stereoisomer of the reactant directly influences the stereoisomer of the product formed. This concept is essential for understanding how different starting materials can lead to distinct outcomes.

Optical Activity

Optical activity refers to the ability of a chiral compound to rotate plane-polarized light. The formation of optically active products from the reaction indicates that the products have chiral centers. In this scenario, the trans products formed from the cis reactants are optically active due to their unique three-dimensional arrangements, which are a result of the stereospecific nature of the reaction.