Resonance structures of aryl or vinyl carbocations

AI Thread Summary
Vinyl and aryl carbocations lack resonance stabilization due to the inability to effectively delocalize electrons into empty p orbitals that are not parallel to each other. The discussion highlights that while resonance structures can show hybridization changes from sp to sp2, this is not feasible for vinyl and aryl carbocations because the geometry of these cations does not support such delocalization. In contrast, benzonitrile can maintain consistent sp hybridization across its resonance structures, allowing for effective resonance without hybridization changes. The conversation also addresses the validity of certain resonance structures, emphasizing that hybridization is a flexible concept within specific limits, and that some proposed structures for vinyl and aryl carbocations may not be reasonable when considering their geometric constraints. Ultimately, the inability of the carbocations to stabilize through resonance is linked to their structural limitations compared to compounds like benzonitrile.
sgstudent
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I read that vinyl or aryl carbocations do not have resonance stabilization but I can't understand why that is the case. Below I have drawn some resonance structures for aryl and vinyl carbocations:

Aryl carbocation: https://imgur.com/QwiHJg8
Vinyl carbocation: https://imgur.com/rKBs57d

In both images, the bottom resonance structures results in the carbocation to change in its hybridization (sp to sp2) which seems like its the reason why the delocalization is not possible. However, in benzonitrile the nitrogen at the edge changes from an sp hybridization to an sp2 hybridization as well in the resonance structures it forms (https://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-9c9c4891e3c59fe96adbc8caf19efc6a?convert_to_webp=true ). So why is it okay for benzonitrile to change its hybridization in this manner while this cannot happen for the vinyl/aryl carbocation?

For the top images, why can't the electrons delocalize in that manner? Would it be because for that to happen, the electrons would have to delocalize into the other p orbital that is empty which is not parallel to the other p orbitals?
 
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sgstudent said:
In both images, the bottom resonance structures results in the carbocation to change in its hybridization (sp to sp2) which seems like its the reason why the delocalization is not possible. However, in benzonitrile the nitrogen at the edge changes from an sp hybridization to an sp2 hybridization as well in the resonance structures it forms (https://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-9c9c4891e3c59fe96adbc8caf19efc6a?convert_to_webp=true ). So why is it okay for benzonitrile to change its hybridization in this manner while this cannot happen for the vinyl/aryl carbocation?
The N in Benzonitrile can be perfectly described using a sp hybridization in all the resonance structures present.
In the case of vinylic or arylic carbocations, some of the resonance structures you draw are unreasonable if you take the proper geometry of the cation into account (which won't be linear in the case of a vinylic carbocation).
 
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DrDu said:
The N in Benzonitrile can be perfectly described using a sp hybridization in all the resonance structures present.
In the case of vinylic or arylic carbocations, some of the resonance structures you draw are unreasonable if you take the proper geometry of the cation into account (which won't be linear in the case of a vinylic carbocation).

Wouldn't the nitrogen have a sp2 hybridization in all but the first resonance structure?

Also, wouldn't this part of your reply "some of the resonance structures you draw are unreasonable if you take the proper geometry of the cation into account" be relevant for the bottom structures only where the hybridization of the carbon changes from sp to sp2? But even so why can't there be a change in the hybridization?

Also, what about the top structures? Why can't those resonance structures exist?
 
Hybridization is not a measurable quality of a molecule but is - within certain bounds - free for you to choose. Hence the bonding in the benzonitrile is perfectly well describable with an sp-hybridization on N for all structures.
I am not sure what you mean with the bottom structures and for which atom exactly you want to change hybridization.
 
DrDu said:
Hybridization is not a measurable quality of a molecule but is - within certain bounds - free for you to choose. Hence the bonding in the benzonitrile is perfectly well describable with an sp-hybridization on N for all structures.
I am not sure what you mean with the bottom structures and for which atom exactly you want to change hybridization.

Oh I see. By the bottom structures I was referring to this: https://imgur.com/wOrj1Q5

After much thought, it seems like these resonance structures are possible. There isn't any change in hybridization in any atom also. Is this possible though?
 
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