Question

with alkene carbons in organic chemistry, how do you use electrostatic charges to know which carbons on a molecule are more likely to react with a proton than the others?

Answer 1

In a molecule where the alkene is the only functional group, the carbons of the alkene have a greater electron density than other carbon atoms since they are involved in a double bond. Because of their greater negative character, they are better nucleophiles compared to alkane carbons and so are more likely to react with an electrophilic proton.

If there is another functional group nearby, one carbon within the alkene may be more likely to react than the other. For example, if there is an alcohol group attached to the carbon adjacent to the alkene (for example in prop-2-en-1-ol), the alkene carbon closer to the alcohol group is more likely to react. Since alcohols are electron donating groups, the alkene carbon nearby gains even more negative character, making it an even better nucleophile.

Not sure if that answered your question...when you say "electrostatic charges," are you talking about polarity/electron density?

Answer 2

yes, i think that electron density is what i was going for, and thank you SO MUCH Matt! very helpful!