Question

Reaction of with 2-methylpropene yields 2-bromo-2-methylpropane. What is the structure of the carbocation formed during the reaction? Show the mechanism of the reaction.

Short answer

The resulting carbocation is ter Butyl carbocation.

Step-by-step solution

Addition reaction

The reaction in which two or more molecules combine to form a single molecule is called an addition reaction.

For example, the addition of hydrogen halide across alkene.

Reaction of with 2-methylpropene

The reaction proceeds via the formation of a tertiary butyl carbonium ion as an intermediate. In the first step, carbocation is formed as an intermediate and in the second step, a bromide ion is added across the carbocation intermediate to give 2-bromo-2-methylpropane.

The reaction mechanism is shown below.