Reactions Of Substituted Vinyl Cations In Acetonitrile Solution As Studied By Flash-Photolysis

Vinyl cations I+, I+b, I+c of the structure R′2C=CR″ (I+a: R′ = R″ = anisyl; I+b R′ = phenyl.R″ = anisyl. I+c: R′ - methyl.R″ = anisyl) were generated by flash photolysis of corresponding bromides. Lifetime measurements yielded the following: substitution of aromatic groups in 2-position by methyl groups largely improved the electrophilicity of the vinyl cations. The nucleophilicity of typical compounds (ketone, ester, alcohol, olefin) was measured.