Ring Flip

[Dominique Zuk 1G]

In a few of the homework questions in Chapter 3 of the Organic Chemistry book we are asked to draw a "ring flip". Could someone please briefly explain what a ring flip is and how we can draw one on a structure?

[Paul Adkisson 1D]

A "ring flip" is simply a transitional process that occurs for cyclohexanes when the end that is pointed down rotates and becomes the end that is pointed up, causing the other side to rotate and point down. This is usually caused by some sort of molecular collision. To draw it, one would just draw the original chair conformation an arrow pointing to the transitional boat conformation, and then another arrow pointing to the final, "flipped" chair conformation.