How do you do addition reactions of alkenes?

1 Answer
May 19, 2016

The first step in the addition reaction, is the interaction between the pi electrons in the double bond and an electrophile. This leads to the formation of a carbocation intermediate. The intermediate then reacts with the nucleophile present in the medium...

The diagram below shows how the reaction takes place and traces the flow of electrons:

Consider the addition a hydrogen halide "H-X" to an alkene:

The first step in the addition reaction, is the interaction between the pi electrons in the double bond and the H-atom of the hydrogen halide followed by the reaction of the halide with the carbocation intermediate producing an alkyl halide.