What is the major product when 2-methyl-1-butene is treated with BrF. Explain your answer.

To determine the major product when 2-methyl-1-butene is treated with BrF, we need to consider the mechanism of the reaction and the nature of the reactants.

The reaction between 2-methyl-1-butene and BrF is known as an electrophilic addition reaction. In this reaction, the double bond of the alkene acts as a nucleophile (electron-rich) and attacks the electrophilic (electron-deficient) bromine atom of BrF. This results in the formation of a new covalent bond between the carbon of the alkene and the bromine atom.

In the case of 2-methyl-1-butene, the carbon that is double bonded to the methyl group and the hydrogen atom is bonded to the most highly substituted carbon. This means that the double bond is more stable due to the greater number of alkyl groups attached to it, resulting in a slight positive charge on the carbon atom in the allylic position.

When BrF approaches the double bond, it acts as an electrophile, attracted to the electron-rich region of the double bond. The nucleophilic attack occurs at the allylic carbon (carbon attached to the double bond), resulting in the formation of a new bond between the allylic carbon and the bromine atom.

The result of this reaction is the formation of the major product, which is 2-bromo-2-methylbutane. The bromine atom is attached to the allylic carbon, forming a new carbon-bromine bond. The reaction proceeds through an anti-Markovnikov mechanism, meaning that the bromine atom adds to the less-substituted carbon, which is the allylic carbon in this case.

Therefore, the major product formed when 2-methyl-1-butene is treated with BrF is 2-bromo-2-methylbutane.