Markovnikov Rule and Predicting Alkene Major Product

When an asymmetrical reactant such as HBr, HCl and H2O is added to an asymmetrical alkene, two possible products can be formed.

Markovnikov Rule, which states that hydrogen will be added to the carbon with more hydrogen, can be used to predict the major product of this reaction.

Applying Markovnikov Rule

Take for instance this alkene:

asymmetrical alkene will have mixture of products during addition reaction

We notice that the alkene is asymmetrical as carbon-1 and carbon-2 are bonded to different groups.

Therefore if we add HBr to this alkene, 2 possible products can be formed.

Carbon-1 is bonded to 2 hydrogen, while carbon-2 is bonded to 1 hydrogen only.

Hence according to Markovnikov Rule, when hydrogen is added to the carbon with more hydrogen, we will get the major product.

This means that when hydrogen is added to carbon-1, which has more hydrogen, and bromine is added to carbon-2, the product 2-bromopropane will be the major product.

Conversely when hydrogen is added to carbon-2, which has less hydrogen, and bromine is added to carbon-1, the product 1-bromopropane will be the minor product.

using markovnikov rule to predict major product

Explaining Markovnikov Rule using Stability of Carbocations

Let's explain Markovnikov Rule by discussing the electrophilic addition mechanism of alkene with HBr.

In the first step, electron rich alkene will attack hydrogen of HBr which is partial positive charge. Two possible intermediates can be formed as the alkene is asymmetrical.

markovnikov rule explained using electrophilic addition mechanism of alkene

For the structure on the left: when hydrogen is added to carbon-1 with more hydrogen, the carbocation intermediate (on carbon-2) formed is bonded to 2 electron donating alkyl groups.

More electron donating groups will stabilise the carbocation to a greater extent.

Hence it is more stable, more likely formed and eventually becomes the major product.

For the structure on the right: when hydrogen is added to carbon-2 with less hydrogen, the carbocation intermediate (on carbon-1) formed is bonded to only 1 electron donating alkyl group.

Less electron donating groups will stabilise the carbocation to a smaller extent.

Hence it is less stable, less likely formed and becomes the minor product.

Check out this video lesson to learn how to determine major product for alkene addition reactions using Markovnikov Rule, and learn how to compare stability of carbocations!

Topic: Alkenes, Organic Chemistry, A Level Chemistry, Singapore

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