Why there isn't any unimolecular addition reaction?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the absence of unimolecular addition reactions in organic chemistry, specifically regarding electrophilic addition to alkenes. Participants clarify that unimolecular reactions, such as unimolecular elimination and nucleophilic unimolecular substitution, involve a single species undergoing a transformation, leading to a carbocation. In contrast, addition reactions necessitate the interaction of two reactants, thus categorizing them as bimolecular. The kinetics of these reactions are defined by their respective rate laws, with unimolecular reactions dependent on the concentration of a single reactant and bimolecular reactions reliant on the concentrations of two reactants.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of organic reaction mechanisms, particularly elimination and substitution reactions.
  • Familiarity with carbocation stability and its role in reaction pathways.
  • Knowledge of reaction kinetics, including unimolecular and bimolecular rate laws.
  • Basic grasp of electrophilic addition reactions involving alkenes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the mechanisms of electrophilic addition reactions to alkenes.
  • Learn about the stability of carbocations and their influence on reaction pathways.
  • Explore reaction kinetics in detail, focusing on unimolecular versus bimolecular reactions.
  • Investigate examples of nucleophilic and electrophilic reactions in organic chemistry.
USEFUL FOR

Chemistry students, organic chemists, and educators seeking a deeper understanding of reaction mechanisms and kinetics in organic chemistry.

Tahmeed
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In my textbook, i have read about unimolecular elimination and nucleophilic unimolecular substitution reaction of organic compounds. In those reactions, firstly one bond breaks automatically then as soon as a carbocation forms then a nucleophile attacks the carbocation to complete the reaction.

Now, my question is, why the same doesn't happen in case of addition reaction of molecules having double bond? one bond breaking may cause a charge separation and then nucleophile/electrophile can attack the positive or negative charged side? I know molecules with charge separation aren't supposed to be much stable. But even in the case of a carbocation the same happens.

I have googled for unimolecular addition reaction but all the results were about unimolecular substitution/elimination.
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
"Unimolecular" and "bimolecular" refer to the kinetics of the reaction. In other words, in a unimolecular elimination/substitution, the reaction rate looks like:
$$\frac{d[A]}{dt} \propto k[A]$$
whereas a bimolecular reaction rate looks like:
$$\frac{d[A]}{dt} \propto k[A][ B] $$
How would you get a reaction rate that looks unimolecular for an electrophilic alkene addition reaction where two species have to come together?
 

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