Addition Reactions Initiated by Electrophilic Halogen Addition Reactions involving other Cyclic Onium Intermediates Brønsted Acid Additions Hydrogenation of Alkenes Oxidations Epoxidation Hydroxylation Oxidative Cleavage of Double Bonds As illustrated in the drawing below, the pi-bond fixes the carbon-carbon double bond in a planar configuration, and does not permit free rotation about the double bond itself. We see then that addition reactions to this function might occur in three different ways, depending on the relative orientation of the atoms or groups that add to the carbons of the double bond: (i) they may bond from the same side, (ii) they may bond from opposite sides, or (iii) they may bond randomly from both sides. The first two possibilities are examples of stereoselectivity , the first being termed syn-addition , and the second anti-addition . Since initial electrophilic attack on the double bond may occur equally well from either side, it is in the second step (or stage) of the reaction (bonding of the nucleophile) that stereoselectivity may be imposed. If the two-step mechanism described above is correct, and if the carbocation intermediate is sufficiently long-lived to freely-rotate about the sigma-bond component of the original double bond, we would expect to find random or non-stereoselective addition in the products. On the other hand, if the intermediate is short-lived and factors such as steric hindrance or neighboring group interactions favor one side in the second step, then stereoselectivity in product formation is likely. The following table summarizes the results obtained from many studies, the formula HX refers to all the strong Brønsted acids. The interesting differences in stereoselectivity noted here provide further insight into the mechanisms of these addition reactions. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reagent H–X X2 HO–X RS–Cl Hg(OAc)2 BH3 Stereoselectivity mixed anti anti anti anti syn Contributors William Reusch, Professor Emeritus ( Michigan State U. ), Virtual Textbook of Organic Chemistry