When an unsymmetrical alkene undergoes electrophilic addition you often get a major and minor product. What would the major product be when propene reacts with hydrochloric acid? Why is this?

The major product would be 2-chloropropane whilst the minor product would be 1-chloropropane. This is because the more stable secondary carbonation is formed as an intermediate. This is easy to show with a mechanism. The secondary carbocation is stabilised by the two neighbouring carbons pushing electron density towards it. This is known as the inductive effect .

JB

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Rank the following compounds in acending order of melting point (and explain your reasoning): CH3CH2CH2NH2, CH3CH2CH3, CH3CH2CH2OH


The intermolecular interactions between halogen molecules are Van der Waals' forces. Explain how these Van der Waal's forces arise between halogen molecules.


What is a stereoisomer?


What is Hund's rule?