Given the compounds 1,1,3-trimethylcyclohexane and 1,1,4-trimethylcyclohexane, which of the following statements is true?
A) Only 1,1,3-trimethylcyclohexane is chiral.
B) Only 1,1,4-trimethylcylcohexane is chiral.
C) Both are chiral.
D) Neither is chiral.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A molecule is chiral if it has no plane of symmetry. 1,1,3-trimethylcyclohexane has no plane of symmetry, since mirror reflection along any plane perpendicular to the ring plane produces a molecule that is not superimposable on the original molecule. On the other hand, 1,1,4-trimethylcyclohexane has a plane of symmetry that bisects the ring plane and passes through the carbon atoms at positions 1 and 4, making it achiral.

Given the Compounds 1,1,3-Trimethylcyclohexane and 1,1,4-Trimethylcyclohexane, Which of the Following