The superacid HBr/AlBr3: Protonation of benzene and ordered crystal structure of [C6H7]+[Al 2Br7]-

Abstract

Crystalline and properly ordered protonated benzene as the [C 6H7]+[Al2Br7] -×(C6H6) salt 1 are obtained by the combination of solid AlBr3, benzene, and HBr gas. Compound 1 was characterized and verified by NMR, Raman and X-Ray spectroscopy. This unexpected simple and straight forward access shows that HBr/AlBr3 is an underestimated superacid that should be used more frequently. Benzene protonated: Crystalline and well-ordered protonated benzene as its [C 6H7]+[Al2Br7] -×(C6H6) salt 1 is obtained by the combination of solid AlBr3, benzene, and HBr gas. This unexpected simple and straight forward access shows that HBr/AlBr3 is an underestimated superacid that should be used more frequently. Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.