Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry-I Bayer Strain Theory: Satheesh Kumar G

PHARMACEUTICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY-I
BAYER STRAIN THEORY
SATHEESH KUMAR G
BAYER STRAIN THEORY
Van’t Hoff and Lebel proposed tetrahedral geometry of
carbon.
 The bond angel is of 109˚ 28' (or 109.5˚) for carbon
atom in tetrahedral geometry
(methane molecule).
 Baeyer observed different bond angles for different
cycloalkanes and also observed
some different properties and stability.
 On this basis, he proposed angle strain theory.
 The theory explains reactivity and stability of
cycloalkanes.
Baeyer proposed that the optimum overlap of atomic
orbitals is achieved for bond
angel of 109.5º. In short, it is ideal bond angle for alkane
compounds.
Effective and optimum overlap of atomic orbitals produces
maximum bond strength and stable molecule.
If bond angles deviate from the ideal then ring produce
strain.
Higher the strain higher the instability.
Higher strain produce increased reactivity and increases
heat of combustion.
 Baeyer proposed “any deviation of bond angle from ideal
bond angle value (109.5º) will produce a strain in
molecule. Higher the deviation lesser the instability”.
The ring of cyclopropane is triangle. All the three angles are of
60 º in place of 109.5º (normal bond angle for carbon atom)
to adjust them into triangle ring system.
 In same manner, cyclobutane is square and the bond angles are
of 90º in place of 109.5º (normal bond angle for carbon atom)
to adjust them into square ring system.
 The deviation for cyclopropane and cyclobutane ring systems
then normal tetrahedral angle will produce strain in ring. The
ring strain will make them unstable as compare to molecules
having tetrahedral bond angle.
So, cyclopropane and cyclobutane will easily undergo ring
opening reactions to form more stable open chain compounds.
Now compare the stability of cyclopropane and cyclobutane
The deviation is higher for cyclopropane than
cyclobutane therefore cyclopropane is more prone to
undergo ring opening reactions.
- As a result of this, the strain is more in cyclopropane
as compare to cyclobutane. It will make cyclopropane
less stable than cyclobutane. So, cyclopropane easily
undergoes ring opening reaction as compare to
cyclobutane.
- According to Baeyer, the relative order of stability for
some common cycloalkanes is as under.
Cyclopentane > Cyclobutane > Cyclopropane
Limitations of Baeyer’s strain theory
Baeyer rightly proposed that cyclopropane and

cyclobutane are flat molecule and having angle of 60˚
and 90˚ those are much deviated from the ideal
tetrahedral value of 109.50 hence these ring systems
are unstable and easily undergo ring opening reactions.
There is much angle strain in cyclopropane and
cyclobutane.
- Baeyer also proposed that Cyclopentane is not need
to be planar but it is planar as in that condition the
angle is much near to ideal tetrahedral angle.
Baeyer theory unsuccessful
Baeyer was not able to explain the effect of angle
strain in larger ring systems.
- According to Baeyer Cyclopentane should be much
stable than cyclohexane but practically it is reversed.
- Larger ring systems are not possible according to
Baeyer as they have negative strain but they exist and
much stable.
- Larger ring systems are not planar but puckered to
eliminate angle strain
Sachse Mohr’s theory (Theory of strainless rings)
Baeyer suggested that both large and small

polymethylene rings should be strained, but Hermann
Sachse, soon pointed out that large rings need not be
strained, because the carbons need not be coplanar.
- Sachse Mohr’s theory proposed that higher member
ring can become free from strain if all the ring carbons
are not forced into one plane. They exhibit in two non-
planar puckered conformations both of which are
completely free from strain. These are called the Chair
Form and Boat Form
The chair conformation is the most stable
conformation of cyclohexane.
- In chair cyclohexane there are two types of positions,
axial and equatorial. The axial positions point
perpendicular to the plane of the ring, whereas the
equatorial positions are around the plane of the ring.

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Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry-I Bayer Strain Theory: Satheesh Kumar G

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PHARMACEUTICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY-I

BAYER STRAIN THEORY

Baeyer rightly proposed that cyclopropane and

Baeyer suggested that both large and small

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