Alkyl fluoride-SbF5 complexes

Lewis superacid-catalyzed direct alkylation of alkanes is also possible with alkyl cations prepared from alkyl halides and SbFs in sulfuryl chloride fluoride solution. " Typical alkylation reactions are those of propane and butanes by 2-butyl and ZerZ-butyl cations. The ClfU-Sbfs and C2H5F-SbF5 complexes acting as incipient methyl and ethyl cations besides alkylation preferentially cause hydride transfer. Since intermolecular hydride transfer between different carbocations and alkanes are faster than alkylation, a complex mixture of alkylated products is usually formed. A significant amount of 2,3-dimethylbutane was, however, detected when propane was propylated with the 2-propyl cation at low temperature [Eq. (6.36)]. No 2,2-dimethylbutane, the main product of conventional acid-catalyzed alkylation, was detected, which is a clear indication of predominantly nonisomerizing reaction conditions. 

The alkylating ability of methyl and ethyl fluoride-antimony pentafluoride complexes has been investigated by Olah et al.,143,144 who showed the extraordinary reactivity of these systems. Self-condensation was observed as well as alkane alkylation. When CH3F-SbF5 was reacted with excess of CH3F at 0°C, at first only an exchanging complex was observed in the H NMR spectrum. After 0.5 h, the starting material was converted into the ferf-butyl cation 4 (Scheme 5.19). 

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