Kinetics and mechanism of hydride transfer from a dicarbazolylmethane to triphenylmethyl cation: stable cations from carbazole derivatives

Abstract

Hydride ion transfer between Ph3C+SbCl6– and bis-(9-ethyl-3-carbazolyl)methane leads to a blue di-(carbazolyl)-methyl dye. Kinetic studies show that the reaction rates are inversely proportional to solvent dielectric in accordance with the general theory of solvent effects on organic reactions. Characterization of the blue dye permits rationalization of many previous reports relating to coloured intermediates from acid-catalysed reactions of carbazole derivatives.