Question

Draw the cis and trans isomers for the following:

a. 1-bromo-4-chlorocyclohexane

b. 1-ethyl-3-methylcyclobutane

Short answer

The cis and trans isomers are given below, they acquire these structures due to the stability and avoiding steric hindrance.

Step-by-step solution

 Step 1: Definition of isomer

Isomers are those which have the same atoms in space but the linkage and their spatial orientations are different.

The probable cis-trans isomers of 1-bromo-4-chlorocyclohexane.

The conformer with the bulkier group at the equatorial position is always more stable as it avoids the 1,3-diaxial interaction and therefore the strain in the ring.

The probable cis-trans isomers of 1-ethyl-3-methylcyclobutane.

Here, the cis form is more stable because of the absence of 1,3-diaxial interaction.