Cis-Cyclooctene

Look for the C=C double bond and realize that it is cis. For small cycloalkenes, the double bond has no choice but to be cis. With cyclooctene and larger cycloalkenes, however, the situation changes: Now there can be cis and trans isomers. In the case of cyclooctene, the cis isomer is more stable. For the larger cycloalkenes the preference becomes less and less.


Figure. The RHF/6-31G* optimized structure of cis-cyclooctene.