FORMULA TO CALCULATE NUMBER OF GEOMETRICAL ISOMERS FOR POLYENES

Polyenes geometrical isomers

(i) When a compound has n double bonds and ends of a polyene are different, the number of geometrical isomers = 2n C6H5 - CH = CH - CH = CH - CH = CH - CH = CH - Cl The given compound has four double bonds and the two ends are different (One is C6H5 and other is Cl). Therefore, number of geometrical isomers .= 2n = 24 = 16 (ii) When the ends of polyene are same. Case I : When number of double bonds (=n) is even then the number of geometrical isomers = 2n-1 + 2[(n/2)-1] Cl - CH = CH- CH = CH - CH = CH - CH = CH - Cl n=4,even Number of geometrical isomers = 2n-1 + 2(n/2)-1] = 23 + 21 = 8 + 2 = 10

Case II : When number of double bonds (=n) is odd. Number of geometrical isomers = 2n-1 + 2[n+1/2]-1 C6H6 - CH = CH - CH = CH - CH = CH - C6H5 (n =3, odd) Number of geometrical isomers = 22 + 22-1 =22 + 21 = 4 + 2 = 6 .