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Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals
Published on: April 19, 2019
The Tris(pentafluorophenyl)methylium Cation: Isolation and Reactivity
Kurt F Hoffmann1, David Battke1, Paul Golz1
1Fachbereich für Biologie, Chemie, Pharmazie, Institut für Chemie und Biochemie-Anorganische Chemie, Fabeckstraße 34/36, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
Herein, we present two different routes for the synthesis of the perfluorinated trityl cation, which allowed the handling of the free, uncoordinated species in organic solvents for the first time. The usage of the weakly coordinating anion [Al(OTeF5 )4 ]- and its derivatives allows the characterization of this species by NMR spectroscopy and most importantly by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The high hydride ion affinity of the cation is shown by hydrogen abstraction from isobutane. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry reveals its oxidative potential which is supported by the reaction with tris(4-bromophenyl)amine, giving rise to the formation of the ammoniumyl radical cation, also known as "magic blue".
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