| Heterolysis
of bonds to carbon |
| Carbocations
and Carbanions |
| Heterolysis of
a bond to a carbon atom can lead to either of
two ions: either to an ion with a positive charge
on the carbon atom, called a carbocation
–or to an ion with a negatively
charged carbon atom, called a carbanion.
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| Carbocations
or carbonium ions are electron deficient. They
have only six electrons in their valence shell,
and because of this carbocations are Lewis acids.
The structure of carbocations is trigonal planar.
In this way they are like BF3 and
AlCl3. Most carbocations are also
short–lived and highly reactive. They
occur as intermediates in some organic reactions.
Carbocations react rapidly with Lewis bases
with molecules or ions that can donate the electron
pair that they need to achieve a stable octet
of electrons (i.e., the electronic configuration
of a noble gas). |
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