Tert cation

Fig. 4.10. Reaction energy profile illustrating competition between elimination and substi-mtion by solvent for a tert-cation.

Besides the tert-butyl cation, we also succeeded in preparing and studying the related isopropyl and the terf-amyl cations. The isopropyl cation was of particular relevance. 

Figure 6.1, H NMR spectra of (a) the tert-butyl cation [trimethylcarbenium ion, (CH jj-jC ] [b) the tert-amyl cation [dimethyletbylcarbenium ion, (CH3)3C -C2H 5] and (c) the isopropyl cation [dimethylcarbenium ion, (CH3)2C Hj (60 MHz, in SbF5 S02CIF solution, —60°C).

Eigure 6.2. IR spectra of tert-huty [top], isopropyl [center], and tert-amyl [bottom) cations. T = transmission. 

Figure 9.2. Carbon Is photoelectron spectrum Is core-hole-state spectra for the 2-norbornyl cation of tert-butyl cation and Clark s simulated spectra for the classical and nonclassical ions.

The reaction of trivalent carbocations with carbon monoxide giving acyl cations is the key step in the well-known and industrially used Koch-Haaf reaction of preparing branched carboxylic acids from al-kenes or alcohols. For example, in this way, isobutylene or tert-hutyi alcohol is converted into pivalic acid. In contrast, based on the superacidic activation of electrophiles leading the superelectrophiles (see Chapter 12), we found it possible to formylate isoalkanes to aldehydes, which subsequently rearrange to their corresponding branched ketones. 

Kinetic data are available for the nitration of a series of p-alkylphenyl trimethylammonium ions over a range of acidities in sulphuric acid. - The following table shows how p-methyl and p-tert-h xty augment the reactivity of the position ortho to them. Comparison with table 9.1 shows how very much more powerfully both the methyl and the tert-butyl group assist substitution into these strongly deactivated cations than they do at the o-positions in toluene and ferf-butylbenzene. Analysis of these results, and comparison with those for chlorination and bromination, shows that even in these highly deactivated cations, as in the nitration of alkylbenzenes ( 9.1.1), the alkyl groups still release electrons in the inductive order. In view of the comparisons just... 

Step 3 Capture of tert butyl cation by chloride ion... 

Like tert butyloxonium ion tert butyl cation is an intermediate along the reaction pathway It is however a relatively unstable species and its formation by dissociation of the alkyloxonium ion is endothermic Step 2 is the slowest step m the mechanism and has the highest activation energy Figure 4 8 shows a potential energy diagram for this step... 

The transition state is closer m energy to the carbocation (tert butyl cation) so Its structure more closely resembles the carbocation than it resembles tert butyloxonium ion The transition state has considerable carbocation character meaning that a significant degree of positive charge has developed at carbon... 

The properties of tert butyl cation can be understood by focusing on its structure which IS shown m Figure 4 9 With only six valence electrons which are distributed among three coplanar ct bonds the positively charged carbon is sp hybridized The unhybridized 2p orbital that remains on the positively charged carbon contains no elec Irons Its axis is perpendicular to the plane of the bonds connecting that carbon to the three methyl groups... 

FIGURE 4 8 Potential en ergy diagram for dissocia tion of tert butyloxonium ion to tert butyl cation... 

FIGURE 4 9 tert Butyl cation (a) The positively charged carbon is sp hybridized Each methyl group IS attached to the positively charged carbon by a cr bond and these three bonds he in the same plane (b) The sp hybridized car bon has an empty 2p orbital the axis of which is perpen dicular to the plane of the carbon atoms... 

FIGURE 4 10 Potential en ergy diagram for reaction of tert butyl cation with chio ride anion... 

The transition state for this step involves partial bond formation between tert butyl cation and chloride ion... 

FIGURE 4 11 Combi nation of tert butyl cation and chloride anion to give tert butyl chloride In phase overlap between a vacant p orbital of (CHbIbC and a filled p orbital of Cr gives a C—Cl (T bond... 

Carbocations are classified according to their degree of substitution at the positively charged carbon The positive charge is on a primary carbon m CH3CH2" a secondary car bon m (CH3)2CH" and a tertiary carbon m (CH3)3C Ethyl cahon is a primary carbocation isopropyl cation a secondary carbocation and tert butyl cation a tertiary carbocation... 

Methyl cation Ethyl cation (primary) Isopropyl cation (secondary) tert Butyl cation (tertiary)... 

The major difference between the two mechanisms is the second step The second step m the reaction of tert butyl alcohol with hydrogen chloride is the ummolecular dis sociation of tert butyloxonium ion to tert butyl cation and water Heptyloxonium ion however instead of dissociating to an unstable primary carbocation reacts differently It IS attacked by bromide ion which acts as a nucleophile We can represent the transition state for this step as... 

These common features suggest that carbocations are key intermediates m alcohol dehydra tions just as they are m the reaction of alcohols with hydrogen halides Figure 5 6 portrays a three step mechanism for the acid catalyzed dehydration of tert butyl alcohol Steps 1 and 2 describe the generation of tert butyl cation by a process similar to that which led to its for matron as an intermediate m the reaction of tert butyl alcohol with hydrogen chloride... 

We can extend the general principles of electrophilic addition to acid catalyzed hydration In the first step of the mechanism shown m Figure 6 9 proton transfer to 2 methylpropene forms tert butyl cation This is followed m step 2 by reaction of the car bocation with a molecule of water acting as a nucleophile The aUcyloxomum ion formed m this step is simply the conjugate acid of tert butyl alcohol Deprotonation of the alkyl oxonium ion m step 3 yields the alcohol and regenerates the acid catalyst... 

The two dimers of (CH3)2C=CH2 are formed by the mechanism shown m Figure 6 16 In step 1 protonation of the double bond generates a small amount of tert butyl cation m equilibrium with the alkene The carbocation is an electrophile and attacks a second molecule of 2 methylpropene m step 2 forming a new carbon-carbon bond and generating a carbocation This new carbocation loses a proton m step 3 to form a mixture of 2 4 4 tnmethyl 1 pentene and 2 4 4 tnmethyl 2 pentene... 

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