Teaching an old carbocation new tricks: Intermolecular C–H insertion reactions of vinyl cations

Abstract

Silicon smooths the way to vinyl cations Saturated carbon centers often undergo substitution reactions by initial cleavage of a carbon-halogen or carbon-oxygen bond, which leaves the carbon positively charged. Analogous cations have proven much harder to access from vinylic carbons that are engaged in double bonds. Popov et al. now show that silicon cations paired with noncoordinating anions can pull triflate groups off such vinylic carbons under ambient conditions (see the Perspective by Kennedy and Klumpp). The resultant vinyl cations react with simple alkanes through C–H insertion. Theoretical and mechanistic studies suggest that these reactions proceed through nonclassical pathways that bifurcate after the transition state. Science , this issue p. 381 ; see also p. 331