Alkenes are converted to alkyl halides by the addition reactions of hydrohalic acids (HCl, HBr, HI). These are generally Markovnikov additions unless we direct the Br to the less substituted carbon atom radical addition using a peroxide catalyst:  From reaction … Read more
Let’s discuss a few strategies for converting alkenes to carboxylic acids that allow to increase the length of the carbon chain, decrease it, and keep it the same as well:   Alkenes to Carboxylic Acids: Keeping the Length of … Read more
Markovnikov’s rule is a general trend predicting that in the reactions of HX (HCl, HBr, HI) species with unsymmetrical alkenes, the X adds to the more substituted carbon of the double bond. The reason for this is the greater stability … Read more
At the beginning of this chapter, we learned that alkenes are electron-rich species and, therefore, undergo a variety of electrophilic addition reactions. To convert them to epoxides, we want to add an oxygen atom to a double bond. This oxygen … Read more
Diols are compounds containing two hydroxyl groups; therefore, we can view the conversion from alkenes to diols are adding two OH groups across the double bond. These are called dihydroxylation reactions: Â Â Notice that the two OH groups are … Read more
The addition reactions of water to alkenes (hydration of alkenes) can be viewed as adding an H and OH groups to the double bond. There are a few ways of achieving this, and the key difference is the regiochemical outcome … Read more
Why are they Called Addition Reactions? Let’s first understand why the reactions of alkenes are called addition reactions. The general formula of alkenes is CnH2n which is two hydrogens less than alkanes (CnH2n+2). This means alkanes are saturated as there … Read more
Halohydrins are compounds containing a vicinal (adjacent) halogen and a hydroxyl groups. Halohydrins are prepared by the traction of alkenes with halogens in the presence of water: Â Â Recall that in neutral solvents such as CCl4 and DCM, the … Read more
Addition of HBr, HCl, and HI to Alkenes The regiochemistry of regioselectivity of a reaction is the preferential formation of one out of two or more possible regioisomers. For example, when an unsymmetrical akene is reacted with a hydrohalic acid … Read more
Acid-Catalyzed Addition of Alcohols and Alkoxymercuration Alkenes can be converted to ethers by reacting them with alcohols in the presence of acid or using Hg(OAc)2 catalyst. Â Â Â You may wonder why use a toxic mercury catalyst if it … Read more
