Ion Cyclotron Resonance Studies of Alkylsilyl Ions. II. The Reactions of Ketones, Carboxylic Acids and Esters with the Trimethylsilyl Cation

Abstract

Nucleophilic attack of a ketone, carboxylic acid or ester at the electrophilic centre of the trimethylsilyl cation (Me,Si⁺) produces a 1:1 adduct. This adduct does not decompose in the case of ketones. Acid adducts decompose primarily by loss of methane, but a minor pathway exists which involves elimination of a ketene. Ester adducts fragment primarily by this latter process through a four-membered transition state. The transfer of hydrogen was shown to arise solely from the acyl group and was shown to proceed with a small deuterium isotope effect. Further decomposition of the resulting ion by loss of methane provides unequivocal proof that esters react predominantly through the alkyl oxygen with the Lewis acid Me₃Si⁺.