Can someone please explain to me how to properly identify and draw bicyclo figures? For example bicyclo [2,2,1] heptane.I understand the when you insert the bicyclo prefix and the suffix indicates the number of carbons present, but I am confused about numbering the brackets.
Sorry I thought I knew the answer but do not
Hi even I was looking for same answer few days ago. I'm sure u r confused with the numbers . The first rule happens to be writng Bicyclo. NOW we have two chains , right? so we'll look for Carbons connecting them, these two carbons r Bridge carbons. They are connected by a bond called Bridge.This bridge if has no Carbon is numbered as ZERO. nOW we take account of no. of Carbons b/w the bridge Carbons FOR EG. in [2.2.1] heptane there are 2 carbons on left 2 on right and the bridge bond has one Carbon ,its written in descending order as Bicyclo[2.2.1] Heptane. Hope I managed to help u.
The numbers in the brackets indicate the lengths of the three paths from getting from one bridge carbon to the other. In this case, it means there are 2 carbons on the way from point A to point B, 2 carbons on an alternate route, and there's one way you can go that only encounters 1 carbon on the way. Need more practice? See if you agree with me that a molecule that looks like a child's drawing of a house is bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane. Just find those two carbons on the opposite sides of the bridge and count the carbons on the way from one to the other along the three paths created.
