VINYL CATION FORMATION BY DECOMPOSITION OF VINYLLEAD(IV) TRIACETATES .2.

The products resulting from the reductive elimination of lead(II) acetate from four E- and Z-pairs of vinyllead triacetates have been examined for evidence that these highly unstable lead compounds are a potential source of vinyl cations, including the less stable primary vinyl cations. The vinyllead triacetates which incorporated either methoxy or phenyl groups for intramolecular cation trapping, were generated by reaction of the corresponding tributyl(vinyl)stannanes with lead tetraacetate. In four cases participation by methoxy and phenyl groups occurred to produce cyclic compounds, strongly implicating vinyl cation formation.