[ILoveISO]

CH3 - CH2 - O - CH2 - CH2 - CH3

and

CH3 - CH2 - CH2 - O - CH2 - CH3

Why aren't these constitutional isomers? It says they are the same compound... yet in another Q...

CH2 - C=O - C=O - CH2 - CH2 -CH2 - CH3 and CH3 - C=O - CH2 - CH2 - C=O - CH2 - CH3 are constitutional isomers... wth?


P.S The C=O means that the O is branched down not right beside thanks

[sjb]

Try rotating your second compound around 180 degrees in the plane of the screen....? Can you do similar for the 3rd and 4th?

[ILoveISO]

What do you mean?... For the first two compounds aren't the O's just attached differently ...

[sjb]

No,

What are the groups attached to your first compound, and then what are they attached to the second?

In a similar way, what is attached to each carbonyl in compounds 3 and 4?

[ILoveISO]

First and second are both attached to CH2s...

Third and fourth are different so why would they be constitutional then wow getting more confused ><

[savy2020]

First and second are both attached to CH2s...

By group, sjb means everything to the right/left of O in first and second structures.
Not just the next atom or so.

Write the first structure as C₂H₅-O-C₃H₇
Also write like that for other three. It may remove your confusion