GAS-PHASE REACTIONS OF FREE PHENYLIUM CATIONS WITH C3H6 HYDROCARBONS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)91321-3

Free, unsolvated phenylium ions formed by the spontaneous β decay of a constituent atom of multitritiated benzene have been allowed to react with gaseous propene and cyclopropane in the pressure range from 10 to 700 torr.Phenylium ions attack efficiently both the C-H and the C-C bonds of cyclopropane, yielding respectively tritiated cyclopropylbenzene and indane as the major products.Selective attack of phenylium ions on the ? bond of propene is suggested by the composition of tritiated products, isomeric phenylpropenes and isopropylbenzene.The different behavior of propene and cyclopropane toward gaseous phenylium ions is consistent with the results of related radiolytic investigations concerning gaseous systems at nearly atmospheric pressure.The reactivity pattern of the isomeric C3H6 hydrocarbons toward gaseous phenylium ions is discussed and compared with pertinent mass spectrometric data.