Based on Saytzeff's rule, select the most stable alkene: 1-methylcyclohexene, 3-methylcyclohexene or 4-methylcyclohexene?

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Answer 1 · 2015-01-12T21:10:17

The most stable alkene is 1-methylcyclohexene.

The structures of the three compounds are

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The most stable alkene is the one that is the most highly substituted.

Structure 1 is trisubstituted. The substituents are #"CH"_3, "C-3"#, and #"C-6"#.

Structure 2 is disubstituted. The substituents are #"C-1"# and #"C-4"#.

Structure 3 is disubstituted. The substituents are #"C-2"# and #"C-5"#.
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So the most stable alkene is Structure 1: 1-methylcyclohexene.