Date of Award

9-1991

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Chemistry

Supervisor

Michael A. Brook

Abstract

The ability of silicon, germanium and tin elements (group 14) to stabilize a vinyl cation intermediate was investigated upon proton addition to metalated (trimethylsilyl)acetylene compounds to lead, after demetalation, to monometalated acetylenes. The reactions were followed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. A bimolecular addition mechanism is obtained and nucleophilic participation in the reaction is observed. The reaction rates showed that vinyl cations are stabilized by hyperconjugation of the carbon-metal bond (β-effect) in the order of magnitude Sn (10⁸) > Ge (500) > Si (1). The magnitude of the β-effect on vinyl cation is altered to a degree by the groups born by the metal. The vinyl cations are stabilized, in a lower extent, by inductive effects of the metalated group to the electron-deficient carbon (α-effect).



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