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Friday, September 1, 2023

Peroxide Effect and It's Mechanism

 

Addition to HBr to propene (unsymmetrical alkene) follows Markovnikov Rule according to which the negative part of the addendum gets attached to that C atom which possesses lesser number of hydrogen atoms.


Addition  of  HBr  to  unsymmetrical  alkenes  like propene in the presence of light or peroxide takes place  contrary  to  the  Markovnikov  rule.  This  so happens only with HBr but not with HCl and HI. This Addition  of  HBr  to  propane  in  the  presence  of benzoyl peroxide follows Anti-Markownikov Rule or Peroxide effect or Kharash Effect.



 

The secondary free radical obtained in (iii) in the above mechanism happens to be more stable than the primary one hence, explains the formation of 1-bromopropane.