The Kharasch (peroxide) effect fundamentally alters the regiochemistry of electrophilic addition. Wh — Haloalkanes and Haloarenes Chemistry Question
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 $HI$?
Answer: A
💡 Solution & Explanation
The radical chain reaction requires exothermic propagation to sustain itself. For $HCl$, the radical abstraction of H is endothermic. For $HI$, the initial addition of the I radical to the double bond is endothermic.
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