Alkenes like 1-butene and 2-butene exhibit constitutional isomerism, as they differ in the position of the double bond. Further, 2-butene exhibits stereoisomerism and exists as two distinct compounds differing in spatial arrangement.
An isomer is called cis-2-butene when the methyl groups are on the same side of the double bond, and the other stereoisomer, in which methyl groups are on the opposite side of the double bond, is called trans-2-butene. The cis and trans stereoisomers are not...

If a set of reactants can yield multiple constitutional isomers, but one of the isomers is obtained as the major product, the reaction is said to be regioselective. In such reactions, bond formation or breaking is favored at one reaction site over others.
The hydrohalogenation of an unsymmetrical alkene can yield two haloalkane products, depending on which vinylic carbon takes up the halogen. However, one product usually predominates, where hydrogen adds to the vinylic carbon bearing the...

One of the critical aspects of the E1 reaction mechanism, as also observed in E2, is the regiochemistry, with multiple regioisomers obtained as products. In the example discussed, the presence of water as a weak base favors elimination over substitution to generate two alkenes. Given that alkenes’ stability increases with the number of alkyl groups across the double bond, typically, E1 reactions lead to the Zaitsev product, for this is more substituted and stable than the Hofmann product.

Elimination reactions of alkyl halides can yield one or more alkenes depending on the specific regiochemical and stereochemical considerations. While the regiochemistry of the reaction governs the location of the double bond in the product, the stereochemical requirements often influence the geometry.
When a substrate with two different β hydrogens undergoes an E2 elimination, the presence of a strong base can yield two regioisomeric alkenes. The more-substituted alkene is the major product and...

The rate of acid-catalyzed hydration of alkenes depends on the alkene's structure, as the presence of alkyl substituents at the double bond can significantly influence the rate.

In the presence of organic peroxides, the addition of hydrogen bromide to an alkene yields the isomer that is not predicted by Markovnikov’s rule. For example, the addition of hydrogen bromide to 2-methylpropene in the presence of peroxides gives 1-bromo-2-methylpropane. This addition reaction proceeds via a free radical mechanism, which reverses the regioselectivity. The free radical reaction mechanism involves three stages: initiation, propagation, and termination.