title: Stable ion and electrophilic chemistry of the sterically crowded stilbene 1,1'-Bi(benzocyclobutenylidene) and its derivatives.
abstract: Generation and NMR studies of novel carbocations and carboxonium ions are reported from sterically hindered stilbene 1,1'-bi(benzocyclobutenylidene) 1, its dimethoxy derivative 5, and from their skeletally rearranged derivatives, namely, the spirocyclic ketone 6, diastereomeric alcohols 7 and isomeric diols 8. Quenching experiments on the carbocations under various conditions resulted in the formation/isolation of several novel covalent adducts. Acid-catalyzed isomerization of the diols 8 produced a remarkable dimeric molecule, whose structure was confirmed by X-ray analysis. Reactions of hindered stilbenes 1 and 5 with Br 2/CDCl 3 were examined via NMR experiments. The experimentally observed carbocations were also studied computationally by GIAO-DFT and by NICS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Laali
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bunge
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lenoir