What is Regioselectivity?
"Regioselectivity" is how we describe reactions that favor the production of one isomer over another.
HCl + propene is the easiest example. Does it create 1-chloropropane or 2-chloropropane?
This is different from regiospecific, which requires the reaction to produce one isomer 100% of the time, and the other isomer 0% of the time.
HCl + propene is the easiest example. Does it create 1-chloropropane or 2-chloropropane?
- The true answer is that a mixture of both is made, but 2-chloropropane is made in a much higher percentage.
- Because more one structural isomer (2-chloropropane) is made than the other structural isomer (1-chloropropane), the reaction is said to be regioselective.
This is different from regiospecific, which requires the reaction to produce one isomer 100% of the time, and the other isomer 0% of the time.
