Electrophilic Addition to Alkenes: Regiochemistry and Stereochemistry
Organic Chemistry · Class 11 Electrophilic Addition to Alkenes: Regiochemistry and Stereochemistry Markovnikov’s rule is not a rule to memorise — it is a consequence of which carbocation forms, and it fails exactly where that carbocation does not form. Class 11 · Organic Chemistry · Mechanism The short answer: An alkene is electron rich, so it attacks an electrophile first. Whichever intermediate that step produces controls everything afterwards — a free carbocation gives Markovnikov orientation and mixed stereochemistry, a bridged bromonium ion gives anti addition, and a radical chain reverses the orientation entirely. Learn the intermediate and the product follows….