Reaction of Cyclopropane
(a) Addition reactions: These reactions lead to the opening of the ring to relieve the ring strain. In these reactions, the reagent attaches to two terminals of the resulting propane chain.
![Reaction of Cyclopropane](https://pharmacyscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot-2022-08-21-180116.png)
The electrophilic addition in substituted cyclopropanes generally follows Markovnikov’s rule wherein hydrogen adds carbon which already contains more hydrogens. Nucleophilic addition to cyclopropane is possible only when an electron-withdrawing group is present on the ring.
The addition of free radicals to cyclopropane is also reported. Thus bromine adds to a cyclopropane ring in presence of UV light via a free radical mechanism.
![Reactions of Cyclopropane and Cyclobutane](https://pharmacyscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot-2022-08-21-180157-1024x94.png)
Reaction of Cyclobutane
Cyclopropane and cyclobutane are present in the gaseous state at room temperature while the remaining cycloalkanes exist in a liquid state. Due to angle strain, the C-C bonds in cyclopropane and cyclobutane are weak. Because of these weak bonds, cyclobutane undergoes reactions similar to that of cyclopropane.
Cyclobutane (b.p. -150): It was first prepared by Willstatter (1907), using the Hofmann exhaustive methylation reaction.
![Reaction of Cyclobutane](https://pharmacyscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot-2022-08-21-180306-1024x304.png)
The yield of cyclobutane was obtained by ring closure of 1,4-halogen alkanes. In yet another method, cyclobutane carboxylic acid may be converted to cyclobutane by following routes.
![Reaction of Cyclobutane](https://pharmacyscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot-2022-08-21-180416-1024x276.png)
Make sure you also check our other amazing Article on : Baeyer Strain Theory