[rleung]

Hi,

The book asks me to give the staggered conformers of 2-methylhexane that have the same energy.  I have labeled the carbons below.  The book answer says that C1-C2, C5-C6, and C2-C7 have staggered conformers of the same energy because each has a carbon that has identical substituents, but I do not see how that means they are the same.

I can see how C1-C2 and C2-C7 can have equal energies since both have 1 carbon that has 3 H's and another carbon that has 1 H, 1 CH3, and 1 CH2CH2CH2CH3, but for C5-C6, they have different substituents.  While C6 has 3 H's, C5 has 2 H's and a CH2CH2CH(CH3)2, which is not the same.  Can someone please explain?  Thanks so much.

Ryan

[AWK]

put hydrogen atoms to your formula

[dexangeles]

you can draw the staggered conformations

[rleung]

I have already drawn the staggered conformers.  That is what I am saying, the book answer does not seem to make sense.  While I see how the staggered conformers for C1-C2 and C2-C7 are the same, I fail to se how the staggered conformer for C5-C6 are the same.  Thanks.

Ryan