Addition Reactions

Professor Dave explains addition reactions, contrasting them with elimination reactions. He focuses on hydrogenation, where hydrogen atoms are added to carbons using transition metal catalysts like platinum. The video highlights the stereospecific nature of addition reactions, introducing terms like syn and anti. Syn addition results in groups being added from the same side, often leading to cis configurations in products. The distinction between syn/anti and cis/trans is emphasized, with syn/anti describing reaction mechanisms and cis/trans describing spatial relationships.

What is the main difference between addition and elimination reactions?

• Addition reactions remove groups from carbons.

• Elimination reactions add groups to carbons.

• Addition reactions add groups to carbons, while elimination reactions remove them.

• Both reactions involve the addition of groups to carbons.

In hydrogenation, what is typically used as a catalyst?

• Copper

• Platinum

• Silver

• Gold

What does heterogeneous catalysis imply about the catalyst and substrate?

• The substrate is a gas.

• They are in different phases.

• The catalyst is a liquid.

• They are in the same phase.

What does 'syn addition' mean in the context of addition reactions?

• Groups are not added at all.

• Groups are added randomly.

• Groups are added from the same side.

• Groups are added from opposite sides.

How do syn and anti additions differ from cis and trans configurations?

• Both refer to spatial relationships.

• Syn and anti refer to reaction mechanisms, while cis and trans refer to spatial relationships.

• Both refer to reaction mechanisms.

• Syn and anti refer to spatial relationships, while cis and trans refer to reaction mechanisms.