1. When chlorine is added to an alkene in aqueous (water) solution, another major product besides the dichloro addition product is usually observed. For example, propene reacts with aqueous chlorine to form 1-chloro-2-propanol as the major product.

Write a mechanism that explains how this product forms.

Indicate how formation of this product relates to the Markovnikov rule.

The electrophile is Cl2, which added first to form a bridged chloronium ion. When the nucleophile (H2O) added, it added to the more substituted carbon, which bears a greater positive charge. This is consistent with the Markovnikov Rule, considering electrophile (Cl) and nucleophile (OH) in place of H and X.

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2. Many alkenes undergo polymerization not only by free radical polymerization, but also by cationic polymerization. During World War 2, as a substitute for natural rubber, butyl rubber was made by cationic polymerization of isobutylene (2-methylpropene).

Write a chain reaction mechanism for cationic polymerization of isobutylene, using strong acid (H+) as initiator.

Explain why isobutylene would be particularly favorable for this type of reaction.

In each step of chain growth, a 3° carbocation is formed, which is an electrophile that can add to another double bond. During this addition polymerization, every carbocation is 3°, which is relatively stable.