Alkenes free-radical additions

C is correct. Anti-Markovnikov alkene free radical addition is demonstrated by reaction mechanisms 1 and 2, both of which rely on peroxides as reagents. Based on tine experimental results provided by the question stem, anti-Markovnikov addition only succeeds using HBr. 

Additions of Si-H bonds to alkynes occur under similar conditions and with the same catalysts as hydrosilation of alkenes. Free radical addition to terminal alkynes gives cis products by a stereospecific terminal trans addition . Supported platinum catalysts give trans products by a terminal cis addition . Chloroplatinic acid catalyzed additions to terminal alkynes give mixtures of trans-1-alkenylsilanes and trans-2-alkenylsilanes in a ratio ranging from 1 1 to 1 5 depending on the substituents on silicon . Addition of SiH2Cl2 to CH2=CHC(CH3)3 gives trans-1-alkenyl- and bis(trans-l-alkenyl)silane products, but no (2-alkenyl)silane °. Internal alkynes react more slowly than terminal alkynes, and even reactions catalyzed by chloroplatinic acid require heat. 

FREE-RADICAL ADDITION OF HYDROGEN BROMIDE TO ALKENES... 

Free Radical Addition of Hydrogen Bromide to Alkenes... 

The regioselectivity of addition of HBr to alkenes under normal (electrophilic addi tion) conditions is controlled by the tendency of a proton to add to the double bond so as to produce the more stable carbocatwn Under free radical conditions the regioselec tivity IS governed by addition of a bromine atom to give the more stable alkyl radical Free radical addition of hydrogen bromide to the double bond can also be initiated photochemically either with or without added peroxides... 

Among the hydrogen halides only hydrogen bromide reacts with alkenes by both electrophilic and free radical addition mechanisms Hydrogen iodide and hydrogen chlo ride always add to alkenes by electrophilic addition and follow Markovmkov s rule Hydrogen bromide normally reacts by electrophilic addition but if peroxides are pres ent or if the reaction is initiated photochemically the free radical mechanism is followed... 

Hydrogen bromide is unique among the hydrogen halides m that it can add to alkenes either by electrophilic or free radical addition Under photochemical conditions or m the presence of peroxides free radical addition is observed and HBr adds to the double bond with a regio selectivity opposite to that of Markovmkov s rule... 

Hydrogen bromide (but not hydrogen chloride or hydrogen iodide) adds to alkynes by a free radical mechanism when peroxides are present m the reaction mixture As m the free radical addition of hydrogen bromide to alkenes (Section 6 8) a regioselectiv ity opposite to Markovmkov s rule is observed... 

The free radical additions of sulfonyl halides to alkenes, catalyzed by light or typical chemical radical initiators (In), were first investigated in the 1950s69. The products which are / -halo sulfones (22) were obtained via a chain reaction in which RSO j acts as the chain carrier, namely61-62,70,71... 

Se-phenyl areneselenosulfonates (24) undergo facile free-radical addition to alkenes to produce / -phenylseleno sulfones (25) in excellent yield86,87 (see Scheme 7). The addition occurs regiospecifically and affords anti-Markovnikov products contrary to the analogous boron trifluoride catalyzed reaction which produces exclusively Markovnikov and highly stereospecific products86 (equation 37). Reaction 36 has been shown to have the radical... 

The addition of hydrogen halides to simple alkenes, in the absence of peroxides, takes place by an electrophilic mechanism, and the orientation is in accord with Markovnikov s rule. " When peroxides are added, the addition of HBr occurs by a free-radical mechanism and the orientation is anti-Markovnikov (p. 985). It must be emphasized that this is true only for HBr. Free-radical addition of HF and HI has never been observed, even in the presence of peroxides, and of HCl only rarely. In the rare cases where free-radieal addition of HCl was noted, the orientation was still Markovnikov, presumably beeause the more stable product was formed. Free-radical addition of HF, HI, and HCl is energetically unfavorable (see the discussions on pp. 900, 910). It has often been found that anti-Markovnikov addition of HBr takes place even when peroxides have not been added. This happens because the substrate alkenes absorb oxygen from the air, forming small amounts of peroxides... 

When double bonds are reduced by lithium in ammonia or amines, the mechanism is similar to that of the Birch reduction (15-14). ° The reduction with trifluoro-acetic acid and EtsSiH has an ionic mechanism, with H coming in from the acid and H from the silane. In accord with this mechanism, the reaction can be applied only to those alkenes that when protonated can form a tertiary carbocation or one stabilized in some other way (e.g., by a OR substitution). It has been shown, by the detection of CIDNP, that reduction of a-methylstyrene by hydridopenta-carbonylmanganese(I) HMn(CO)5 involves free-radical addition. ... 

Free-radical addition of an aryl group and a hydrogen has been achieved by treatment of activated alkenes with a diazonium salt and TiCls. ... 

The groups R2N and Cl can be added directly to alkenes, allenes, conjugated dienes, and alkynes, by treatment with dialkyl-V-chloroamines and acids. " These are free-radical additions, with initial attack by the R2NH- radical ion. " N-Halo amides (RCONHX) add RCONH and X to double bonds under the influence of UV light or chromous chloride. " Amines add to allenes in the presence of a palladium catalyst. ... 

The compounds CCI4, BrCCla, ICF3, and similar simple polyhalo alkanes add to alkenes in good yield. These are free-radical additions and require initiation, for... 

Free-radical addition of acyl halides to alkenes... 

---