Predict the major products of the following reactions, and propose mechanisms to support your predictions.
a. pent-1-ene + HCl

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Recognize the type of reaction. This is an electrophilic addition reaction where HCl adds across the double bond of pent-1-ene.
2. Step 2: Identify the electrophile and nucleophile. In HCl, the hydrogen atom (H⁺) acts as the electrophile, and the chloride ion (Cl⁻) acts as the nucleophile.
3. Step 3: Determine the regioselectivity using Markovnikov's rule. The hydrogen atom will add to the carbon of the double bond that already has more hydrogen atoms, while the chloride ion will add to the carbon with fewer hydrogen atoms.
4. Step 4: Propose the mechanism. The π electrons of the double bond attack the H⁺, forming a carbocation intermediate. The stability of the carbocation is crucial, and the secondary carbocation (formed at the second carbon) is more stable than a primary carbocation.
5. Step 5: Complete the reaction. The Cl⁻ ion then attacks the carbocation, forming the major product, 2-chloropentane. This product is formed due to the regioselectivity dictated by Markovnikov's rule.

Key Concepts

Electrophilic Addition

Electrophilic addition is a fundamental reaction mechanism in organic chemistry where an electrophile reacts with a nucleophile, typically involving alkenes. In the case of pent-1-ene and HCl, the double bond acts as a nucleophile, attacking the electrophilic hydrogen in HCl, leading to the formation of a carbocation intermediate. This step is crucial for predicting the major products of the reaction.

Carbocation Stability

Carbocation stability is a key concept in understanding reaction mechanisms involving electrophilic addition. Carbocations are positively charged carbon species, and their stability is influenced by the degree of substitution: tertiary carbocations are more stable than secondary, which are more stable than primary. In the reaction of pent-1-ene with HCl, the formation of the more stable secondary or tertiary carbocation will dictate the major product formed.

Markovnikov's Rule

Markovnikov's Rule states that in the addition of HX to an alkene, the hydrogen atom will attach to the carbon with the greater number of hydrogen atoms already attached, while the halide (X) will attach to the carbon with fewer hydrogen atoms. This rule helps predict the regioselectivity of the reaction between pent-1-ene and HCl, leading to the formation of 2-chloro-pentane as the major product.