NEET UG » NEET UG Study Material » Chemistry » All About Specific Carbocations

All About Specific Carbocations

A carbocation is an ion that contains a carbon atom that is positively charged. The elements methenium CH3+, methanium CH5+ and ethanium C2H7+ are among the most basic examples.

In addition to strong experimental data from solvolysis experiments and NMR studies conducted in non-nucleophilic environments, a non-classical structure for C4H7+ has been proposed based on theoretical calculations. 

The cyclopropylcarbinyl cation and the bicyclobutonium cation were both proposed as possible explanations for the observed reactivity in various experiments, while the NMR data point to a highly fluxional system that undergoes rapid rearrangement to produce an averaged spectrum consisting of only two 13C NMR signals, even at temperatures as low as 132°C.

It has been confirmed computationally that the energetic landscape of the C4H7+ system is very flat, and that the two isomers proposed based on experimental data are very close in energy, with the bicyclobutonium structure being computed to be only 0.4 kcal/mol more stable than the cyclopropylcarbinyl structure. 

Under mild conditions (SbF5–SO2ClF– SO2F2) and with SbF– 6 as the counterion, the bicyclobutonium structure predominates over the cyclopropylcarbinyl structure in an 84:16 ratio at 61 degrees Celsius.

It is now known that three other potential structural configurations, two classical structures (the homoallyl cation and the cyclobutyl cation) and a more strongly delocalized non-classical structure (the tricyclobutonium ion), are less stable isomers of the monocyclobutonium ion (or merely a transition state rather than an energy minimum in the case of the cyclobutyl cation).

Substituted Cyclopropylcarbinyl Cations 

The cyclopropenium ion is a cation with the formula C3H3+ that exists in nature. 

It has gotten people’s attention since it is the tiniest example of an aromatic cation.

Its salts have been identified, and X-ray crystallography has been used to describe a large number of its derivatives.

Cyclopropylcarbinyl cations are a system that has been extensively researched.

The fact that both cyclopropylcarbinyl and cyclobutyl substrates 1 and 2, where X indicates diazonium ion, chloride, or naphthalenesulfonate leaving groups, interacted in aqueous solvents to generate an equal combination of products 3, 4, and 5 piqued the curiosity of the researchers at the outset.

There are three different types of cyclopropyl carbonyl cations: 6a, 6b, and 6c, which are in equilibrium with the cyclobutyl cation 7 and the homoallylic cation 8. 

Primary carbocations 6 are significantly more stable than simple primary carbocations because of the presence of the cyclopropyl ring in the cation 6. 

In addition, the cyclobutyl cation 7 has a high degree of stability when compared to simple secondary carbocations.

The carbocation that has been substituted with trimethylsilyl.

It has piqued our curiosity to study the long-range interactions of silicon with carbene and carbocation centres, respectively. 

The formation of -trimethylsilyl cations of general type 11 has been demonstrated in both stable-ion and solvolytic settings in this manner [1, 2]. 

They are significantly stabilised by the “rear lobe” kind of interaction demonstrated to involve the -trimethylsilyl group, which is shown to be quite effective.

Bent Bond 

Bend bonds, sometimes known as banana bonds, are a type of covalent chemical connection with a shape similar to that of a banana. 

As a generic depiction of electron density or configuration, it is analogous to the “bent” structure found in tiny ring structures, such as the molecule cyclopropane (C3H6), or as a representation of double or triple bonds within a compound that is an alternative to the sigma and pi bond models.

To meet a certain molecular shape, bent bonds are an advanced sort of chemical bonding in which the regular hybridization state of two individual atoms forming one chemical bond is changed with enhanced or decreased s-orbital character.

Bent bonds are present in organic molecules that have been strained, such as cyclopropane, oxirane, and aziridine.

Orbital Overlap

An orbital overlap is a concentration of orbitals on nearby atoms that occur in the same regions of space when they form a chemical bond. 

Bond formation can occur as a result of orbital overlap. 

Linus Pauling highlighted the significance of orbital overlap in the chemical bond angles seen by testing; this overlap is the basis for orbital hybridization, as demonstrated by the experimenter Linus Pauling.

It was necessary to develop an explanation for why molecules with observed bond angles of 109.5°, such as methane (CH4), had observed spherical (and therefore non-directional) s orbitals and p orbitals that were orientated 90 degrees to each other. 

Pauling proposed that the s and p orbitals on the carbon atom can combine to produce hybrids (sp3 in the case of methane).

Because the carbon hybrid orbitals have a wider overlap with the hydrogen orbitals, they can create stronger C–H bonds than the hydrogen orbitals.

Matrix of Overlaps

When describing the inter-relationship of a collection of basis vectors of a quantum system, such as an atomic orbital basis set used in molecular electronic structure computations, the overlap matrix is a square matrix, which is utilised in quantum chemistry.

This is especially true if the vectors are orthogonal to one another, in which case the overlap matrix will be diagonal. Aside from that, if the basis vectors are ortho normally distributed, the overlap matrix will be equal to the identity matrix. 

Regardless of how many basis functions are employed to create the overlap matrix, it is always nn in size. It resembles a Gramian matrix in certain ways.

Conclusion

When three substituents are present, the carbon sp2 is hybridised, and the entire molecule has a trigonal planar geometry, which is known as a carbocation geometry. 

Its substituents are all in the same plane and have a bond angle of 120° between them, which makes the carbocation a symmetrical structure. 

The carbon atom in the carbocation has only six valence electrons, which are utilised to create three sigma covalent bonds with the substituents since the carbon atom has an electron deficiency.

It is known that the carbocation carbon has a vacant p orbital that is perpendicular to and perpendicular to the plane formed by the substituents. 

Due to the ease with which the p orbital can receive electron pairs during reactions, carbocations are efficient Lewis acids.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the NEET UG Examination Preparation.

What causes the cyclopropenyl cation to be unstable?

Ans. The double bond of the cyclopropenyl cation is in conjugation with the p...Read full

What is a bent bond in the field of chemistry?

Ans. To meet a certain molecular shape, bent bonds are an advanced sort of chemical bonding in which the regular hyb...Read full

Are bonds capable of bending?

Ans. The ability to bend or stretch is a property shared by all chemical bond...Read full

Do carbocations have the ability to rotate?

Ans. Carbocation rearrangement occurs under common reaction circumstances, resulting in the formation of a new carbo...Read full

Explain what a banana bond is?

Ans. In boranes, an extended covalent bond is formed by the shared presence of two boron atoms, which is a form of t...Read full