A unique and novel cyclopropylmethyl cation intermediate: a DFT study

Some physical organic aspects of the intermediates that result from the interaction between phenylmethylenecyclopropane (substituted derivatives are important in synthesizing cyclobutenes) and platinum and palladium halides have been studied using B3LYP. Geometrical aspects, values of atom polarizable tensor charges (APT), effect of substituents, selected transition states activation barriers, and molecular orbital calculations are presented. These calculations suggest a novel organometallic cyclopropylmethyl cation, which is characterized by the presence of a highly polarized and unusually long sigma bond between the benzylic carbon and coordinating halogen atom.