How do you write the structural formulas for the two chloro-isomers that can be formed from 2-methylpropane (isobutene)?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 18, 2017

From #"isobutene"#, #H_2C=C(CH_3)_2#? (You have written the alkane in the formula.)

Explanation:

For an unsymmetrical olefin, there are 2 possible addition reactions:

#H_2C=C(CH_3)_2 +HX rarr H_3C-C^+(CH_3)_2+ X^-#

OR

#H_2C=C(CH_3)_2 +HX rarr H_2""^+C-CH(CH_3)_2+ X^-#

The more stable carbocation, which is conceived to be the intermediate, is the former, the tertiary carbocation. We would expect to get more #H_3C-C(X)(CH_3)_2# than #XCH_2CH(CH_3)_2#.

This is a simple application of #"Markownikow's rule."#

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