Learning Objective: To learn about a few common reactions that carbon-centered free radicals undergo in organic chemistry.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Chapter: Reactive Intermediates
Sub-topic: Free Radicals
Author's Note: Once we understand the mechanism of how a free radical reaction reacts and finally quenches, we can look at and appreciate the common reactions involving free radicals, which we routinely encounter in organic chemistry. The four most common yet popular ones are listed in the article.
Common Reactions involving Carbon - Centered Free Radicals
1) Polymerization reaction
Alkenes undergo a polymerization reaction to create a product that is a polymer chain of many repeating units (called the monomer) initiated by a free radical. The reaction goes through the stages of initiation, propagation, and termination.
For example, a polymer Teflon used to make non-stick cookware is obtained from an alkene, tetrafluoroethylene.

The repeating monomer unit is, ......
2) Chlorination of Alkanes
The alkane and chlorine are stable indefinitely; however, the mixture rapidly reacts...
3) Bromoalkanes by Anti-Markovnikov Addition
Alkenes in presence of HBr and peroxide as the ...
4) Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
A free radical can be ...
