[llagetias]

 I got this problem wrong on my Orgo lab quiz and I want to figure out what I did wrong. According to the problem, there were four cyclohexane templates drawn and I drew two conformers, one with the substituents in the axial position and the other with the substituents in the equatorial position in a trans conformation and the other two conformers with one substituent axial and the other equatorial (cis conformers). I said the most stable conformer was the one with both subtituents in the equatorial position (trans) but my TA marked it wrong. I know that the tert-butyl group cannot be axial but am not sure what the correct answer is and why. If anyone can help me out I would really appreciate it.

[MissPhosgene]

Could you provide a scheme?

[macman104]

Could they have marked it wrong because they were not looking for the carbonyl to be drawn axial or equatorial, but more "planar" looking?  I can't post chemdraw right now otherwise I would show what I mean.

[llagetias]

I can scan the quiz in tomorrow (or ask my TA, either way), but I think the main problem was I drew the structure wrong. Also in my class, they were talking about the Felkin Ahn model and that might have had something to do with the answer.