13.3 & 13.4 Reactions of Alkenes and
Electrophillic Addition
Addition reactions of the alkenes
Hydrogen Halides
Alkenes react with gaseous hydrogen halides at room temp to form haloalkanes
If alkene is gaseous, reaction take place when two gases are mixed
If alkene is liquid, the the hydrogen halide is bubbled through it
Alkenes can also react with concentrated HCl or HBr (which are solution of the hydrogen halides in water)
Each of these reactions involves the ADDITION of a small
molecule across the double bond, causing the pi bond to
break, and new bonds to form
Hydrogenation of Alkenes
Nickel Catalyst
423K
Alkene + Hydrogen = Alkane
Hydrogenation of Propene >>
Hydration reactions of Alkenes
Alkene + Water (steam) --> Alcohol
Requires the presence of a phosphoric acid catalyst (H3PO4)
Can form a Primary or secondary alcohol
Halogenation
Rapid addition reaction with the halogens: Cl or Br at room temperature
Haloalkane
Electrophilic addition in Alkenes
Alkenes usually take part in addition reactions to form saturated compounds = ELECTROPHILLIC ADDITION
Double bond in an alkene represents region
of high electron density due ton presence of
pi-electrons
High electron density attracts electrophiles
Electrophile = An atom that is attracted to an electron-rich
centre and accepts an electron pair. Usually a positive ion or
molecule containing an atom with a partial positive charge.
^^ The mechanism
Markownikoff's
Rule
You can have a primary or secondary carbocation. This is similar to a primary or secondary alcohol.
Carbocation Stability
The stability increases as you go from primary carbocation, through to tertiary carbocation.