Comments on: 3 Factors That Stabilize Carbocations https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:45:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: James Ashenhurst https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-586224 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 18:57:20 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-586224 In reply to Chenglin.

Hi Chenglin, I am assuming you are referring to the image under section 5.
The *overall* kinetics of these reactions will be dictated by the formation of the carbocation, which is the rate-limiting step. Generally the more stable the carbocation, the lower will be the the activation energy for its formation (“late” transition state) and the faster the overall rate of reaction.

It should not be interpreted to mean that there is a relationship between the stability of the carbocation and the rate of the *second* (i.e. fast addition of nucleophile to carbocation) step.

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By: Chenglin https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-585712 Wed, 07 Oct 2020 06:48:44 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-585712 Hello James, thanks for the clear explanation.
A question about the carbocation. We say that the more stable carbocation reacts with the nucleophile faster. Are we connecting the thermodynamic stability to the kinetics here?

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By: Dip https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-579458 Wed, 22 Apr 2020 12:21:39 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-579458 Cyclopropenyl cation being aromatic can be stored in bottle.but is it possible to store cyclopropyl methyl cation as it is more stable.

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By: James Ashenhurst https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-579430 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 14:32:21 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-579430 In reply to Dip.

Cyclopropyl methyl. Cyclopropenyl quickly rearranges to allyl cation.

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By: Dip https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-579372 Mon, 20 Apr 2020 13:14:00 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-579372 Which carbocation is more stable
Cyclopropyl methyl cation or cyclopropenyl cation

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By: Viraj https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-569494 Fri, 01 Nov 2019 14:43:03 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-569494 thank you sir your articles are very hepful and they helped me to understand my archj-enemy O-chem better

THANK YOU!!!!

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By: James Ashenhurst https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-552820 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 18:43:02 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-552820 In reply to Asma Gulzar.

That is an EXCELLENT question and the data contradicts somewhat. Cyclopropylmethyl cations are generally considered to be more stable than benzyl. I’m looking for a better reference than just March 5th ed. p. 222, but the references therein are to good, but somewhat obscure, reviews. Hydrolysis rates suggest cyclopropylmethyl cations are more stable.

However another way to answer that is to look at 13-C NMR to determine the chemical shift of the carbocations. The more negative the chemical shift, the more unstable it is. The 2-cyclopropyl carbocation has a chemical shift of -86.8 ppm and the 2-phenylpropyl cation has a chemical shift of -61.1 indicating that the phenyl group is better at stabilizing. See https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja00731a026

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By: James Ashenhurst https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-551904 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 16:34:45 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-551904 In reply to Mark.

Discussed in the series on rearrangments.

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By: James Ashenhurst https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-551903 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 16:33:43 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-551903 In reply to rachit.

Aromaticity. See: https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2017/02/23/rules-for-aromaticity/

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By: James Ashenhurst https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/#comment-551902 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 16:33:03 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1405#comment-551902 In reply to nilanjana.

It’s far more powerful to look at stabilization from the perspective of hyperconjugation, but it’s far easier to explain it from the perspective of inductive effects. If you are a major in a chemistry program I would take the time to learn hyperconjugation and apply that to your studies. It’s a very powerful concept.

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