Protosolvation activated complex

While both 4-phenylbutyronitrile (6) and 1,3-diphenyl-l-propanone (9) cyclizations show a dependence on acid strength, the kinetic data suggest differing degrees of protonation at their transition states, or differing protosolvation of the activated complexes. 

Volpin called the CH3COCI lAlCk complex an aprotic superacid. The results indicate that the acetyl cation is activated by further 0-complexation with a second molecule of AIX3 (the equivalent of protonation or protosolvation). 

The key of alkane transformation was assigned to the formation of CX3+-type cations that are electrophilic enough (probably due to a second complexation of A1X3), to abstract a hydride anion from linear and cycloalkanes. When these cations are generated in superacidic media, a protosolvation induces a superelectrophilic character, which was supported by Olah on the basis of high-level ab initio calculations 65 The generation of these cations was also used by various teams66,67 to initiate selective low temperature alkane activation. 

Two types of interactions have been shown to be involved in superelectrophilic species. Superelectrophiles can be formed by the further interaction of a conventional cationic electrophile with Brpnsted or Lewis acids (eq 16).23 Such is the case with the further protonation (protosolvation) or Lewis acid coordination of suitable substitutents at the electron deficient site, as for example in carboxonium cations. The other involves further protonation or complexation formation of a second proximal onium ion site, which results in superelectrophilic activation (eq 17).24... 

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