Chair conformation

[Mason_Aguila_2G]

For the cyclohexane to flip conformations from one chair to the other, it has to go through the boat conformation correct? Therefore it has to go through the higher energy state to get to the lower?

[Danny Nguyen 2H]

Yes, that is correct and also to break through that boat formation the collision has to be strong enough to break through the energy barrier in order for it the ring flip to occur.

[Jordan Pace 2B]

For clarity, what exactly is a ring flip? I have heard the term used multiple times but I'm not exactly sure what it means! Thanks in advance!

[Jordan Pace 2B]

To add to the comment above, I know a ring flip changes whatever is axial to equatorial, but is there more to it? What's the significance of this?

[Calvin Huang 3D]

A ring flip is as the person above described, when all the axial groups become equatorial and all equatorial become axial. Ups remain ups and downs remain downs. Although chair is the most stable form, the significance of this process as described in lecture is for the molecule to reach an even more stable state. Before a flip, there are times when axial/equatorial groups will be in contact with other groups, something which is unfavorable. After the flip, this is fixed, resulting in a more stable state for the molecule.