The Kharasch (peroxide) effect fundamentally alters the regiochemistry of electrophilic addition. Why is this radical mechanism strictly naturally limited exclusively to and not observed with or ?

Question

The Kharasch (peroxide) effect fundamentally alters the regiochemistry of electrophilic addition. Why is this radical mechanism strictly naturally limited exclusively to $HBr$ and not observed with $HCl$ or $HI$?

Prashant Kotian · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: A. The radical chain reaction requires exothermic propagation to sustain itself. For , the radical abstraction of H is endothermic. For , the initial addition of the I radical to the double bond is endothermic.

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