In the previous blog post, we have learned the mechanism involved in the Electrophilic Addition reaction of Alkenes. The example in the video is ethene, C2H4, a symmetrical alkene reacting with Br2 (dissolved in CCl4).
Today, we will look at a different example, which involve the addition of hydrogen halide to an unsymmetrical alkene and two possible organic products will be obtained.
Length of video:7.55 minutes
Direct video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXz121Qlwws
From the video, you have learned Markovnikov’s Rule (commonly known as Markovnikov’s Addition) which is important when it comes to electrophilic addition reaction involving unsymmetrical alkenes.
In the addition of HX to the C=C bond of an unsymmetrical alkene, the H atom attaches itself to the carbon that already holds the greatest number of H atoms i.e. “The Rich Gets Richer“. This is because the reaction involves the formation of carbocation intermediate and the stability decreases in the order: 3o > 2o > 1o due to the presence of electron-donating alkyl (R) groups.
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