Markovnikov addition mechanism

To account for this peroxide effect, Kharasch and Mayo proposed that addition can take place by two entirely different mechanisms Markovnikov addition by the ionic mechanism that we have just discussed, and anti-Markovnikov addition by a free-radical mechanism. Peroxides initiate the free-radical reaction in their absence (or if an inhibitor, p. 189, is addedX addition follows the usual ionic path. 

In this reaction, a hydrogen atom and a halogen are added across an alkene. The halogen (Cl) is ultimately positioned at the more substituted carbon, which verifies that this reaction takes place via an ionic mechanism (Markovnikov addition). The ionic mechanism for hydrohalogenation has two steps (1) protonation of the alkene to form the more stable carbocation and (2) nucleophilic attack. Each step must be drawn precisely. 

A typical example of a nonpolymeric chain-propagating radical reaction is the anti-Markovnikov addition of hydrogen sulfide to a terminal olefin. The mechanism involves alternating abstraction and addition reactions in the propagating steps ... 

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... 

We see that the final position of chlorine is determined by the stability of the intermediate carbocation, which becomes evident as we work through the mechanism. Since chlorine ends up at the more substituted carbon, we call this a Markovnikov addition. The mechanism for this reaction helped explain the regio-chemistry of the reaction. 

Here is where we get back to mechanisms. Whether we are talking about Zaitsev vs. Hoffman elimination reactions or about Markovnikov vs. anti-Markovnikov addition reactions, the explanation of the regiochemistry for every reaction is contained within the mechanism. If we completely understand the mechanism, then we will understand why the regiochemistry had to be the way it turned out. By understanding the mechanism, we eliminate the need to memorize the regiochemistry for every reaction. With every reaction you encounter, you should consider the regiochemistry of the reaction and look at the mechanism for an explanation of the regiochemistry. 

When we explore the mechanisms of addition reactions, we will see why some reactions proceed through a Markovnikov addition while others proceed through an anti-Markovnikov addition. For now, let s make sure that we are comfortable using the terms. 

In other words, we must determine whether the reaction is a Markovnikov addition or an anii-Markovnikov addition. As promised, the answer to this question is contained in the mechanism. In the first step of the mechanism, a proton was transferred to the alkene, to form a carbocation. When starting with an unsymmetrical alkene, we are confronted with two possible carbocations that can form (depending on where we place the proton) ... 

In both mechanisms, the regiochemistry is determined by a preference for forming the most stable intermediate possible. For example, in the ionic mechanism, adds to produce a tertiary carbocation, rather than a secondary carbocation. Similarly, in the radical mechanism, Br adds to produce a tertiary radical, rather than a secondary radical, hi this respect, the two reactions are very similar. But take special notice of the fundamental difference. In the ionic mechanism, the proton comes on first. However, in the radical mechanism, the bromine comes on first. This critical difference explains why an ionic mechanism gives a Markovnikov addition while a radical mechanism gives an anti-Markovnikov addition. 

These brackets indicate that H+ is not consumed in the reaction. In other words, H+ is a catalyst, and therefore, we call this reaction an acid-catalyzed hydration. In order to understand why this reaction proceeds via a Markovnikov addition, we turn our attention to the mechanism. The proposed mechanism of an acid-catalyzed hydration... 

The rate-determining step in the hydration mechanism is step 1 the formation of the carbocation => accounts for the Markovnikov addition of water to the double bond. 

Anti-Markovnikov addition of HBr to alkynes occur when peroxides are present. 1) These reactions take place through a free radical mechanism. 

Proton attaches itself to a carbon atom by an ionic mechanism to form the more stable carbocation => Markovnikov addition. 

Bromine attaches itself to the less hindered carbon atom by a radical mechanism to form the more stable radical intermediate => anti-Markovnikov addition. Radical addition... 

Similar to the addition of secondary phosphine-borane complexes to alkynes described in Scheme 6.137, the same hydrophosphination agents can also be added to alkenes under broadly similar reaction conditions, leading to alkylarylphosphines (Scheme 6.138) [274], Again, the expected anti-Markovnikov addition products were obtained exclusively. In some cases, the additions also proceeded at room temperature, but required much longer reaction times (2 days). Treatment of the phosphine-borane complexes with a chiral alkene such as (-)-/ -pinene led to chiral cyclohexene derivatives through a radical-initiated ring-opening mechanism. In related work, Ackerman and coworkers described microwave-assisted Lewis acid-mediated inter-molecular hydroamination reactions of norbornene [275]. 

The preparation of di-w-butyl ether is illustrative (Scheme 2.6). No reaction occurred with n-butanol alone for 2 h at 200 °C. However, in the presence of 10 mol % n-butyl bromide, 26% conversion of the alcohol to the ether was obtained after 1 h, without apparent depletion of the catalyst. It is known that addition of alkaline metal salts can accelerate solvolytic processes, including the rate of ionization of RX [41]. This was confirmed when the introduction of LiBr (10 mol %) along with n-butyl bromide, afforded a conversion of 54% after 1 h at 200 °C. Ethers incorporating a secondary butyl moiety were not detected, precluding mechanisms involving elimination followed by Markovnikov addition. 

Scheme 2. Proposed mechanisms for the anti-Markovnikov addition... 

In the early days of alkene chemistry, some researchers found that the hydrohalogenation of alkenes followed Markovnikov s rule, while others found that the same reaction did not. For example, when freshly distilled but-l-ene was exposed to hydrogen bromide, the major product was 2-bromopropane, as expected by Markovnikov s rule. However, when the same reaction was carried out with a sample of but-l-ene that had been exposed to air, the major product was 1-bromopropane formed by antl-Markovnikov addition. This caused considerable confusion, but the mystery was solved by the American chemist, Morris Kharasch, in the 1930s. He realised that the samples of alkenes that had been stored in the presence of air had formed peroxide radicals. The hydrohalogenation thus proceeded by a radical chain reaction mechanism and not via the mechanism involving carbocation intermediates as when pure alkenes were used. 

The general reaction for the catalytic hydration of an alkene to produce an alcohol is shown in Figure 3-6, and the mechanism is in Figure 3 7. This process is an excimple of a Markovnikov addition (as seen in Organic Chemistry 1). 

Mechanism of the Markovnikov addition of water to an alkene to yield an alcohol. 

The hydrative cyclization involves the formation of a ruthenium vinylidene, an anti-Markovnikov addition of vater, and cyclization ofan acylmetal species onto the alkene. Although the cyclization may occur through a hydroacylation [32] (path A) or Michael addition [33] (path B), the requirement for an electron- vithdra ving substituent on the alkene and lack of aldehyde formation indicate the latter path vay to be the more likely mechanism. Notably, acylruthenium complex under vent no decarbonylation in this instance. 

Kharasch and Mayo in 1933," in the first of many papers on the subject, showed that the addition of HBr to allyl bromide in the presence of light and air occurs rapidly to yield 1,3-dibromopropane, whereas in the absence of air and with purified reagents, the reaction is slow and 1,2-dibromopropane is formed. The latter reaction is the normal addition occurring by an ionic pathway giving the Markovnikov orientation. In 1933 the mechanism of the abnormal process ( anti-Markovnikov addition) was not discussed, and it was only in 1937 that the free radical chain mechanism for this process was proposed by Kharasch and his co-workers. "" The mechanism was extended to propene, for which the role of peroxides in promoting the reaction was demonstrated (equations 30, 31). This mechanism was also proposed... 

Acid-catalyzed addition has an ionic mechanism (Markovnikov) ... 

Problem 14.5 Suggest a mechanism consistent with the following observations for the solvomercuration of RCH=CH, with R OH in the presence of HgfOAc) , leading to the formation of RCH(OR )CH,Hg(OAc) (i) no rearrangement, (ii) Markovnikov addition, (iii) anti addition, and (iv) reaction with nucleophilic solvents. 

It is possible to obtain anti-Markovnikov products when HBr is added to alkenes in the presence of free radical initiators, e.g. hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) or alkyl peroxide (ROOR). The free radical initiators change the mechanism of addition from an electrophilic addition to a free radical addition. This change of mechanism gives rise to the anh-Markovnikov regiochemistry. For example, 2-methyl propene reacts with HBr in the presence of peroxide (ROOR) to form 1-bromo-2-methyl propane, which is an anh-Markovnikov product. Radical additions do not proceed with HCl or HI. 

Addition of concentrated H2SO4 to alkenes yields acid-soluble alkyl hydrogen sulphates. The addition follows Markovnikov s rule. The sulphate is hydrolysed to obtain the alcohol. The net result is Markovnikov addition of acid-catalysed hydration to an alkene. The reaction mechanism of H2SO4 addition is similar to that of acid-catalysed hydration. 

Addition of alcohol to alkenes hy alkoxymercuration-reduction produces ethers via Markovnikov addition. This addition is similar to the acid-catalysed addition of an alcohol. For example, propene reacts with mercuric acetate in aqueous THF, followed hy reduction with NaBFl4, to yield methyl propyl ether. The second step is known as demercuration, where Flg(OAc) is removed hy NaBH4. Therefore, this reaction is also called alkoxymercura-tion-demercuration. The reaction mechanism is exactly the same as the oxymercuration-reduction of alkenes. 

Reaction 1 has been postulated both in oxidations of alkanes in the vapor phase (29) and in the anti-Markovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide to olefins in the liquid phase (14). Reaction 2 involves the established mechanism for free-radical bromination of aromatic side chains (2). Reaction 4 as part of the propagation step, established in earlier work without bromine radicals (26), was not invoked by Ravens, because of the absence of [RCH3] in the rate equation. Equations 4 to 6, in which Reaction 6 was rate-determining, were replaced by Ravens by the reaction of peroxy radical with Co2+ ... 

In general, the ease of addition of H—X to simple alkenes follows their relative acidity, HI > HBr > HC1, but HF addition is often surprisingly easy. A diversity of mechanisms appear to be involved in these processes, ranging from relatively pure carbocation processes to those more reminiscent of four-center addition. Markovnikov addition is commonly observed when precautions are taken to exclude peroxide or other possible free radical initiators. Though strong acids are involved and rearrangements are not uncommon, the reaction conditions are otherwise quite mild and yields can be high. 

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