A sample of propene () is reacted with iodine monochloride () in a non-nucleophilic solvent. Based o — Haloalkanes and Haloarenes Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Iodine monochloride ($ICl$) is a polar interhalogen molecule. Because chlorine is significantly more electronegative than iodine, the bond is polarized as $I^{\delta+} - Cl^{\delta-}$. The initial step in electrophilic addition is the attack of the alkene pi-electrons on the electrophilic atom ($I^+$). Following Markovnikov's rule, the iodine attaches to the terminal carbon (C1) to generate the more stable secondary ($2^\circ$) carbocation intermediate at C2 ($CH_3-C^+H-CH_2I$). The nucleophilic chloride ion ($Cl^-$) then rapidly attacks this carbocation, yielding 2-chloro-1-iodopropane as the exclusively dominant major product.