Hydrogen Bromide Addition to Alkenes by Radicals

Hydrogen bromide can add to alkenes through a radical chain reaction when hydroperoxides or peroxides are present. This pathway gives anti-Markovnikov addition, which means the bromine ends up on the less substituted side of the double bond.

The reaction begins with chain initiation. First, mild ...

The anti-Markovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide to alkenes occurs in the presence of hydroperoxides or peroxides.

The mechanism proceeds via a radical chain reaction involving initiation, propagation, and termination steps.

The chain initiation occurs in two steps. The first step involves the homolytic cleavage of the weak O–O bo...