Abstract
Protonation of 1,3,5-tricyano- and 1,3,5-triaminobenzene was achieved in various superacidic media, resulting in the formation of the respective trinitrilium and triammonium species. Furthermore, the respective N-methyl nitrilium species was synthesized by methylation. Characterization was performed by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy, followed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of selected species. Fourfold protonation of the amine, which would have led to the triammonium arenium species, could not be achieved. Quantum chemical calculations are employed to enable full vibrational assignment as well to quantify charge localization.