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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3o2227

The alkene shown is treated with under radical conditions (). Which structure is the major product?

  1. AStructure A
  2. BStructure B
  3. CStructure C
  4. DStructure D

Answer: C

The alkene is styrene. radical adds to the terminal carbon because this gives the benzylic radical, which is resonance stabilised; hydrogen abstraction from completes the step. The product is (2-bromoethyl)benzene (anti-Markovnikov); without peroxide the ionic route would give (1-bromoethyl)benzene.
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