Radical Bromination of 1-Isopropyl-1-Methylcyclopentane Explained

What is the principal organic product formed by free-radical bromination of 1-isopropyl-1-methylcyclopentane?

How does free-radical bromination involve substitution in an alkane molecule?

Principal Organic Product

The principal organic product formed by free-radical bromination of 1-isopropyl-1-methylcyclopentane is 1-bromo-2,2-dimethylcyclopentane. But how does this process occur?

In free-radical bromination, a hydrogen atom in an alkane molecule is substituted by a bromine atom. When 1-isopropyl-1-methylcyclopentane undergoes bromination, the bromine radical (Br•) attacks the alkane molecule and abstracts a hydrogen atom. This leads to the formation of a carbon-centered radical.

The hydrogen atom on the carbon adjacent to the isopropyl group is most susceptible to abstraction in this case. As a result, an isopropyl radical and a bromine atom are formed. The isopropyl radical then reacts with a bromine molecule, substituting the bromine atom for the hydrogen atom.

After the reaction, the resulting product is 1-bromo-2,2-dimethylcyclopentane. The isopropyl group remains intact, and the methyl group on the cyclopentane ring does not undergo significant changes.

Therefore, the principal organic product formed by free-radical bromination of 1-isopropyl-1-methylcyclopentane is 1-bromo-2,2-dimethylcyclopentane, with specific radical reactions leading to this final product.