Talk:Org:pswallow89

1.2.1 Cp dimers: Nice to see you’ve thought outside of the question (your example of the diels alder with cyclopentene). Bit of a muddled answer for the hydrogenation products. MM models can tell us nothing about transition states therefore, from these calculations, we cannot state if the reaction is under kinetic control, we can only state which product is the more thermodynamically stable. You also say that the product with the lower energy means the reaction is under kinetic control, really? Still, a good answer.

1.2.2 NAD: Check the structures in your mechanism! Otherwise a good, if slightly brief, answer.

1.2.3 Taxol: You’ve drawn your molecules incorrectly so your energies are off. Still, your discussion is fine.

1.3.1 Carbene: Will the alkene become weaker if the electron density of its pi orbital is increased? That’s maybe just a slip of the tongue, an excellent answer otherwise.

Mini-project: A logical approach to minimisation. Nice to see you looking at the standard deviation as opposed to just differences. Your analysis is fine and it’s good to see you’re not treating the literature as gospel.

Overall: A few silly mistakes here and there regarding your structures but an excellent piece of work nonetheless.