Question Details

The major product of the following chemical reaction is :

Options

A

B

C

D

Correct Answer :

(CH3)2CH-CH2-CH2-Br

Solution :

The correct answer is (CH3)2CH-CH2-CH2-Br (1-bromo-3-methylbutane).

Reaction Analysis:
The given reaction is the addition of hydrogen bromide (HBr) to an alkene, specifically 3-methylbut-1-ene, in the presence of benzoyl peroxide, (C6H5CO)2O2.
When HBr reacts with an unsymmetrical alkene in the presence of a peroxide, the addition follows an anti-Markovnikov pathway (also known as the peroxide effect or Kharasch effect), which proceeds via a free-radical mechanism.

Step-by-step Mechanism:

1. Chain Initiation:
The peroxide initiator decomposes homolytically to produce radicals, which then react with HBr to generate a bromine radical (Br•):
(C6H5COO)22C6H5COO2C6H5+2CO2
C6H5+H-BrC6H6+Br

2. Chain Propagation:
The bromine radical attacks the double bond of 3-methylbut-1-ene. The addition occurs selectively at the terminal carbon atom to form a more stable secondary carbon radical instead of a less stable primary carbon radical:
(CH3)2CH-CH=CH2+Br(CH3)2CH-CH-CH2Br
This secondary radical then abstracts a hydrogen atom from another HBr molecule to form the final product and regenerate the bromine radical:
(CH3)2CH-CH-CH2Br+H-Br(CH3)2CH-CH2-CH2Br+Br

Unlike carbocation intermediates, free-radical intermediates do not undergo rearrangement under these standard conditions. Therefore, the major product is the non-rearranged anti-Markovnikov addition product: 1-bromo-3-methylbutane.

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