Aromatic substitution in the gas phase. Part II. Reactions of the helium tritiide ion with anisole, t-butylbenzene, and ααα-trifluorotoluene

Abstract

The study of the gas-phase reactions of the HeT⁺ ion from the β-decay of molecular tritium is extended to anisole, t-butylbenzene, and ααα-trifluorotoluene. A mechanism based upon exothermic triton transfer from the gaseous Brønsted acid HeT⁺ to the aromatic substrate is used to account for the formation of the tritiated products, and for the distribution of tritium which is found mainly in the ortho positions of anisole and in the meta positions of ααα-trifluorotoluene.