Meerwein's salt

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Meerwein's salt, named after Hans Meerwein, are trialkyloxonium salts. Best known (and commercially available) are trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate and triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate.

The compounds are used as exceptionally strong alkylating agents.

[edit] Synthesis

Triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate is most advantageously prepared from boron trifluoride, diethyl ether and epichlorohydrin. ^[1] The trimethyloxonium salt is available from dimethyl ether via an analogous route. ^[2]

[edit] See also

• Tetrafluoroborate

[edit] References

1. ^ Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 5, p.1080 (1973); Vol. 46, p.113 (1966).
2. ^ Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 6, p.1019 (1988); Vol. 51, p.142 (1971).

• H. Meerwein, G. Hinz, P. Hofmann, E. Kroning, and E. Pfeil (1937). "Über Tertiäre Oxoniumsalze, I". Journal für Praktische Chemie 147 (10-12): 257. doi:10.1002/prac.19371471001. 
• H. Meerwein, E. Bettenberg, H. Gold, E. Pfeil, and G. Willfang (1940). "Über Tertiäre Oxoniumsalze, II". Journal für Praktische Chemie 154 (3-5): 83. doi:10.1002/prac.19391540305.