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 ▸

Explain how the electron pair repulsion theory can be used to deduce the shape of, and the bond angle in, PF3 .


(Essay question) How are cycles important in biology?


Explain what happens to a crystal of iodine when it is heated (5marks)


How is the electrophile formed for the nitration of benzene??