The Student Room Group

Geometric Isomers

I know this is proabably a very very very silly question, but can these actually excist as a geometric isomers?


CH3CH2 - C=C - H
............./....\
............H.....OH

AND


CH3CH2 - C=C - OH
............./....\
............H.....H

I mean, i know there are two different groups on the C=C bond so theoretically it is can exist as a geometric isomer, but is it fine to have a C atom with 2 different functional groups on it like i've drawn. i.e the last C atom being double bonded to a neighbouring C atom and also attached to an OH group?


I'm sure the easier solution would have been to draw:

H3C - C=C - H
......../....\
......H......CH2OH

AND

H3C - C=C - CH2OH
......../....\
......H......H

but is the first isomer still possible?


Thanks
:smile:
Yes it is --> the heavier groups in the first isomer are on opposite sides, so is a trans/E- isomer, and in the second, the heavier groups are on the same side of the souble bond, making a cis/Z- isomer
Reply 2
brilliant.
thanks for that.

Just wasn't sure it was entirely possible to have two fuctional groups on the same C atom and still call it a geometric isomer.

Thanks.
:smile: