Which conformation of a cyclohexane ring is more stable: chair or boat?

The chair conformation of cyclohexane is more stable than the boat conformation due to several factors related to sterics and torsional strain. In the chair conformation, all carbon-carbon bonds are staggered, which minimizes torsional strain. This arrangement allows for a more favorable spatial arrangement for hydrogens and other substituents, reducing steric hindrance.

The boat conformation, on the other hand, introduces eclipsed interactions between substituents that are unfortunate because some hydrogens come into proximity with each other, leading to increased torsional strain. Additionally, in the boat conformation, there are two hydrogen atoms on the bow and stern of the boat that are closer than in the chair conformation, causing sterically unfavorable interactions.

Overall, the chair conformation enjoys greater stability because it allows for fewer steric interactions and a more favorable arrangement of atoms, thus leading to a lower energy state compared to the boat conformation. This fundamental understanding is critical when analyzing the stability of cyclohexane derivatives and their various conformations.