16. Conjugated Systems

Drawpictorialrepresentations (as in Figures16-4 and 16-6) for the three bonding MOs and the two nonbonding MOs of cyclooctatetraene. The antibonding MOs are difficult to draw, except for the all-antibonding MO.

Propose reasonable molecular orbitals for the following conjugated atomic orbitals.

Show the electronic configuration of the ground state of hexa-1,3,5-triene.

Sketch the pi molecular orbitals of hexa-1,3,5-triene.

The central carbon atom of an allene is a member of two double bonds, and it has an interesting orbital arrangement that holds the two ends of the molecule at right angles to each other.

a. Draw an orbital diagram of allene, showing why the two ends are perpendicular.

b. Draw the two enantiomers of penta-2,3-diene. A model may be helpful.

Repeat Problem 16-10 for the cyclopentadienyl ions. Draw one all-bonding MO, then a pair of degenerate MOs, and then a final pair of degenerate MOs. Draw the energy diagram, fill in the electrons, and confirm the electronic configurations of the cyclopentadienyl cation and anion.