Superacid-catalyzed condensation of benzaldehyde with benzene. Study of protonated benzaldehydes and the role of superelectrophilic activation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00150a018

Under superacid conditions benzaldehyde reacts readily with benzene to give triphenylmethane in high yield. Experimental evidence supports the involvement of diprotonated benzaldehyde in the reaction. Ab initio calculations at the correlated MP2/6-31G* le