For electrophilic addition reaction

Before beginning a detailed discussion of alkene reactions, let s review briefly some conclusions from the previous chapter. We said in Section 5.5 that alkenes behave as nucleophiles (Lewis bases) in polar reactions. The carbon-carbon double bond is electron-rich and can donate a pair of electrons to an electrophile (Lewis acid), for example, reaction of 2-methylpropene with HBr yields 2-bromo-2-methylpropane. A careful study of this and similar reactions by Christopher Ingold and others in the 1930s led to the generally accepted mechanism shown in Figure 6.7 for electrophilic addition reactions. 

How do we know that the carbocation mechanism for electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes is correct The answer is that we don t know it s correct at least we don t know with complete certainty. Although an incorrect reaction mechanism can be disproved by demonstrating that it doesn t account for observed data, a correct reaction mechanism can never be entirely proved. The best we can do is to show that a proposed mechanism is consistent with all known facts. If enough facts are accounted for, the mechanism is probably correct. 

Scheme 4.3. Sulfur and Selenium Reagents for Electrophilic Addition Reactions...

A-Acyliminium ions are suitable partners for electrophilic addition reactions of allylstannanes. Although the corresponding silanes have been more widely studied in these cases/ allylic stannanes are fully competent reaction participants, as illustrated by formation of the l-azabicyclo[3.1.0]pentane 159 via intra-molecular cyclization of the fi-allylic stannane 157 (Scheme 5.2.33). The reaction produces the vinyl cyclopropane under protic acid conditions with complete stereocontrol. s... 

Therefore, the more stable transition state is achieved by adding the nucleophile to the most substituted sp carbon—the one bonded to the lesser number of hydrogens— because the partial positive charge will be on a secondary carbon rather than on a primary carbon. Thus, this reaction also follows the general rule for electrophilic addition reactions The electrophile adds to the sp carbon that is bonded to the greater number of hydrogens. In this case, the electrophile is Br. ... 

The first step in the mercuric-ion-catalyzed hydration of an alkyne is formation of a cyclic mercurinium ion. (Two of the electrons in mercury s filled 5d atomic orbital are shown.) This should remind you of the cyclic bromonium and mercurinium ions formed as intermediates in electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes (Sections 4.7 and 4.8). In the second step of the reaction, water attacks the most substituted carbon of the cyclic intermediate (Section 4.8). Oxygen loses a proton to form a mercuric enol, which immediately rearranges to a mercuric ketone. Loss of the mercuric ion forms an enol, which rearranges to a ketone. Notice that the overall addition of water follows both the general rule for electrophilic addition reactions and Markovnikov s rule The electrophile (H in the case of Markovnikov s rule) adds to the sp carbon bonded to the greater number of hydrogens. 

The chemistry of l-methyl-truns-cyclo-octene has been studied. In particular it reacts with acidic methanol to give 1-methoxy-l-methylcyclo-octane, with bromine to give a complex mixture, and with peracid to give its epoxide. On warming in acetic acid it is isomerized to 1-methyl-cis-cyclo-octene, and it reacts with diazomethane and phenyl azide to give cycloaddition products. With 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazine-3,5-dione, the ene product (121) is obtained. The major difference in reactivity between trans-cyclo-octene and its 1-methyl analogue was found for electrophilic addition reactions where the stability of the incipient 3° cation made the 1-methyl compound more reactive.Transannular products were obtained from the reaction between trans-... 

Water attacks the more substituted ring carbon because it leads to the more stable transition state since the partial positive charge is on a secondary rather than a primary carbon. Therefore, this reaction, too, follows the general mle for electrophilic addition reactions the electrophile (here, Br ) adds to the sp carbon that is bonded to the most hydrogens and the nucleophile (H2O) adds to the other sp carbon. 

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