Question

Question: Explain why two substitution products are formed in the following reaction.

Short answer

Answer

The mechanism of the given reaction is shown below

Step-by-step solution

Step-by-Step Solution Step 1: Carbocation formation

Whenever a more electronegative atom attached to the carbon atom attracts the charge density to it, it results in the formation of the carbocation.

Formation of the stable carbocation in the reaction

In the first step of the reaction, heterolytic cleavage takes place between C and Cl as Cl is more electronegative than carbon.

This leads to the formation of a secondary carbocation. The shifting of hydride takes place to form the tertiary carbocation (stable). The mechanism is shown below.

Formation of stable carbocation

Formation of the major products

There would be two carbocations formed. The attack of the nucleophile on both carbocations takes place, followed by deprotonation.

This results in the formation of two major products, as shown below.

Formation of the major compounds