Making isolable halosilylium Lewis superacids by protonation

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 15 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41557-025-01992-9

Halogen-substituted silylium ions are among the strongest known Lewis superacids with promising synthetic applications, but their synthesis has not been possible using established methods for generating silicon cations. Now, a general approach to these elusive reactive intermediates is reported, based on the protonation of halosilanes with a Brønsted superacid.

​Nature Chemistry, Published online: 15 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41557-025-01992-9Halogen-substituted silylium ions are among the strongest known Lewis superacids with promising synthetic applications, but their synthesis has not been possible using established methods for generating silicon cations. Now, a general approach to these elusive reactive intermediates is reported, based on the protonation of halosilanes with a Brønsted superacid. Read More

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