“Carbocation Watching” in Solvolysis Reactions

Abstract

The missing link between conventional SN1 reactions and the chemistry of stable carbocations has been found. When water is added to the colorless solution of the covalent compound Ar2CH-OAc (Ar=morpholinophenyl) in acetone, the appearance and disappearance of the intermediate carbocation ArCH+ can be observed with the naked eye!