What determines regioselectivity?

1 Answer
Mar 24, 2018

God...., and most chemists would suspect that the other deity controls chemoselectivity.

Explanation:

Regioselectivity refers to the preference of a chemical reaction to proceed in ONE direction as opposed to another. Consider a simple reaction...the hydrohalogenation of propylene by HX...for which TWO products are possible, and are observed...

H3CCH=CH2+HXH3CCHXCH3+H3CCH2CH2X

MORE of the secondary alkyl halide is obtained....

This major product is the so-called Markownikow product, and the reaction proceeds in this direction of the basis of the enhanced stability of 2 carbocation...H3C+CHCH3 versus the primary carbocation...H3CCH2+CH2

If there is a specific issue or observation, please refine the question... As for any physical or chemical phenomenon, you do the experiment FIRST, and then try to interpret it.