energy barriers

[cara_Budzinski_3D]

Is there an energy barrier that must be overcome for cyclobutane to move from one part of the butterfly conformation to the other, since it must briefly reassume a planar shape?

[Michelle_Tan_1G]

Yes, any shift in conformation requires an energy collision with one of the structural atoms strong enough to overcome the energy barrier.

[Aliya Habib 1L]

Yes, any shift in conformation requires an energy collision with one of the structural atoms strong enough to overcome the energy barrier.

How are these energy barriers usually overcome? Also, are there any calculations associated with that?

[Michelle_Tan_1G]

Its caused by a collision between something (another molecule maybe?) and one of the atoms in the structure, which transfers the energy to change conformation. I'm pretty sure any calculations to do with it is beyond the scope of this course bc i dont remember learning anything about that :(