Anti-Markovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide (HBr) in the presence of organic peroxides (Peroxide e — Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The anti-Markovnikov peroxide effect dictates the regiochemistry of addition across an unsymmetrical alkene. But-2-ene ($CH_3-CH=CH-CH_3$) is a perfectly symmetrical alkene. Because both doubly-bonded carbons possess the same number of hydrogen atoms and identical substituent environments, addition at either position yields the exact same product (2-bromobutane). Thus, Markovnikov/anti-Markovnikov rules do not practically apply.