last updated Fri, Oct 8, 2004

Meeting 3 Problem Set - 30BL

1.Using PC Spartan at the Science Learning Center (4 Floor Young Hall) do the following:

a. Draw camphor if you have not done it yet. Minimize the structures by clicking the minimize icon, , then save.

b. Go to the view mode by clicking the view icon, . Once in the view mode, click the Model menu and select Tube.

c. Select Calculations from the Setup menu.

d) Do the same (steps a-c) for 2-norbornanone.

2. Referring to the below reaction,

(endo/exo huh?)

answer the following questions:

a) which isomer is expected to be the major product for this reaction? why? (include the LUMO diagram generated in question 1 to answer this question)

b) what would change if D2O is used instead of H2O in this reaction?

3. Referring to the below reaction,

answer the following questions:

a) draw the products formed in this reaction

b) which product is the major and which is the minor? Explain using the LUMO generated above (include the diagram).

4. Referring to the reduction of camphor answer the following questions.

a. Why is methanol used as a solvent for the reaction? (Hint: How do you pick a solvent for a reaction in general?)

b. A relatively large excess of sodium borohydride is used in this reaction. Explain briefly why and show pertinent chemical equations.

c. Why is it ill advised to boil off the diethyl ether on the hotplate?

d. Why is racemic isoborneol obtained in this reaction?

5. The IR spectrum is acquired for the final product of the reaction.

a. What are the most significant differences between the IR spectrum of camphor and the product?

b. How is the IR spectrum acquired?

c. Why does the IR spectrum acquired for isoborneol in different states of matter look different?