Evidence for the Existence of Carbenium Ions by Trapping Experiments

Evidence for the Existence of Carbenium Ions by Trapping Experiments 

The classic Koch reaction between olefins or alcohols and CO in the presence of water provides evidence for the existence of carbenium ions in superacidic solutions 

By in situ MAS NMR spectroscopy, the Koch reaction was also observed upon co-adsorption of butyl alcohols (tert-butyl, isobutyl, and -butyl) and carbon monoxide or of olefins (Ao-butylene and 1-octene), carbon monoxide, and water on HZSM-5 (Ksi/ Ai — 49) under mild conditions (87,88). Under the same conditions, but in the absence of water (89), it was shown that ethylene, isobutylene, and 1-octene undergo the Friedel-Crafts acylation (90) to form unsaturated ketones and stable cyclic five-membered ring carboxonium ions instead of carboxylic acids. Carbonylation of benzene by the direct reaction of benzene and carbon monoxide on solid catalysts was reported by Clingenpeel et al. (91,92). By C MAS NMR spectroscopy, the formation of benzoic acid (178 ppm) and benzaldehyde (206 ppm) was observed on zeolite HY (91), AlC -doped HY (91), and sulfated zirconia (SZA) (92). 

Carboxylic acids can also be formed by a reaction of small alkanes, carbon monoxide, and water on solid acid catalysts (93,94). By in situ C MAS NMR spectroscopy (93), the activation of propane and isobutane on acidic zeolite HZSM-5 was investigated in the presence of carbon monoxide and water. Propane was converted to isobutyric acid at 373 73 K, while isobutane was transformed into pivalic acid with a simultaneous production of hydrogen. On SZA, methyl isopropyl ketone was observed as evidence for the carbonylation of isobutane with carbon monoxide after the sample was held at 343 K for 1 h (94). When the reaction of isobutane and carbon monoxide was carried out in the presence of water, pivalic acid was identified as the main reaction product (94). These observations are rationalized by the existence of a small number of sites capable of generating carbenium ions, which can be further trapped by carbon monoxide (93). 

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