It was hoped that hydride transfer would lead to the 7-norbornadienyl cation (5) or products derived from its decomposition. However, triphenylmethane was not isolated as a product of this reaction. Presumably 3 was formed by reaction of the triphenylmethyl cation with isobutene that was generated from 4 (or species derived from 4) by attack of the triphenylmethyl cation or of acids. Triphenylmethyl perchlorate and methyl t-butyl ether ...
