13C NMR spectroscopic comparison of sterically stabilized meta- and para-substituted o-tolyldi(adamant-1-yl)methyl cations with conjugatively stabilized benzyl cations

Abstract

A series of meta- and para-substituted anti-o-tolyldi(adamant-1-yl)methyl cations has been generated by reaction of anti-o-tolyldi(adamant-1-yl)methanols with trifluoroacetic acid in chloroform. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy indicates small but significant variations in the chemical shifts of the charged carbon and its nearest neighbours on the adamantyl groups, and departures from additivity of substituent effects on the shifts of the aromatic carbons. Previous work on the closely related di(adamant-1-yl)benzyl cations is discussed. Comparison with data on aryl-substituted carbocations in superacid media reveals marked differences in the aromatic carbon shifts in the two types of carbocation. The dihedral angle between aryl and carbocation planes in aryldi(adamant-1-yl)methyl cations is estimated to be about 60°.