Question 11.6: Determine whether the following substituted cycloalkanes are......

Both molecules are cyclopentanes having two methyl group substituents. Thus both would be named 1,2-dimethylcyclopentane. In the structure on the left, one methyl group is above the ring and the other is below the ring; they are in the trans configuration, and the structure is named trans-1,2dimethylcyclopentane. In the structure on the right, both methyl groups are on the same side of the ring (below it, in this case); they are cis to one another, and the complete name of this compound is cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopentane.