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Carbocations are one of the reaction intermediates formed during several nucleophilic substitutions or elimination reactions. A carbocation is an electron-deficient species with the central carbon atom having six electrons and three bonded atoms. The central carbon in a carbocation is sp2 hybridized with trigonal planar geometry. It has an empty p orbital perpendicular to the plane of the structure that can accept electrons. Thus, carbocations act as strong electrophiles and may react with any nucleophile.

A methyl cation is the simplest form of carbocation, which has three hydrogen atoms attached to the central carbon. Each hydrogen atom can be replaced with an alkyl substituent to generate a primary, secondary or tertiary carbocation.

The stability of the carbocation can be estimated by the inductive effect and hyperconjugation phenomenon that directly depends on the number of alkyl substituents adjacent to the central positive carbon atom. Thus, the carbocation’s stability increases with the increase in the number of alkyl groups.

Tags
CarbocationsReaction IntermediatesNucleophilic SubstitutionsElimination ReactionsElectron deficient SpeciesSp2 HybridizedTrigonal Planar GeometryEmpty P OrbitalElectrophilesNucleophileMethyl CationAlkyl SubstituentPrimary CarbocationSecondary CarbocationTertiary CarbocationStabilityInductive EffectHyperconjugation Phenomenon

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6.6 : Carbocations

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.1 : אלקיל הלידס

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.2 : תגובות החלפה נוקלאופיליות

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.3 : נוקלאופילים

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.4 : אלקטרופילים

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.5 : עזיבת קבוצות

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.7 : SN2 תגובה: קינטיקה

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.8 : SN2 תגובה: מנגנון

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.9 : SN2 תגובה: מצב מעבר

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.10 : SN2 תגובה: סטריאוכימיה

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.11 : SN1 תגובה: קינטיקה

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.12 : SN1 תגובה: מנגנון

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.13 : SN1 תגובה: סטריאוכימיה

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.14 : חיזוי מוצרים: SN1 לעומת SN2

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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6.15 : תגובות אלימינציה

Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides

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