1,2-DIMETHYLCYCLOHEXANES

The methyl groups in a dimethylcyclohexane can be cis or trans to each other.  Trans-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane has the two chair conformers shown below.  It should be obvious which is the more stable.  Note that both are chiral - there is a second trans-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane, the enantiomer of the one shown below.
 
 

 trans-diequatorial
 trans-diaxial

Cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane has the two chair conformers shown below.  They are also chiral, but in this case they are mirror images of each other (and are, of course, interconverting at room temperature).  There is only one cis-dimethylcyclohexane, without an enantiomer.
 
 

 trans-diequatorial
 trans-diaxial

 
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