Molecular Models of Lipids

Cholesterol

In the following model, the carbon atoms are dark gray, hydrogen is cyan and oxygen is red. Note the equatorial orientation of the hydroxyl group, and the axial locations of the angular methyl groups. Unlike the rigid ring system, the eight carbon side chain is flexible and may assume many conformations.

^{Show Spacefill Model}
^{Show Stick Model}

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Decalin Isomers

In the following models, the carbon atoms are dark gray, hydrogen is cyan. The two carbon atoms common to both rings (ring fusion carbons) may be marked (colored blue) by clicking the designated button. At the same time, the hydrogen atoms on these carbons (called angular hydrogens) will be colored magenta. The three buttons in the last row mark certain features of cis-decalin that render it less stable than its trans isomer. The gauche orientations are not all shown together because of overlap.

trans-decalin (decahydronaphthalene)

cis-decalin (decahydronaphthalene)

^{Show Spacefill Model}
^{Show Stick Model}
^{View ring fusion carbons (blue) & angular hydrogens (magenta)} ^{Show Spacefill Model}
^{Show Stick Model}
^{View ring fusion carbons (blue) & angular hydrogens (magenta)}

^{Show steric crowding (red) in cis-decalin}
^{Show two gauche chains in cis-decalin (one is green the other is orange)}
^{Show a third gauche chain in cis-decalin (colored magenta)}

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trans-decalin (decahydronaphthalene)		cis-decalin (decahydronaphthalene)

^{Show Spacefill Model} ^{Show Stick Model} ^{View ring fusion carbons (blue) & angular hydrogens (magenta)}		^{Show Spacefill Model} ^{Show Stick Model} ^{View ring fusion carbons (blue) & angular hydrogens (magenta)}
		^{Show steric crowding (red) in cis-decalin} ^{Show two gauche chains in cis-decalin (one is green the other is orange)} ^{Show a third gauche chain in cis-decalin (colored magenta)}