carbocationn.
/ˌkɑːbəʊˈkatʌɪən/, U.S. /ˌkɑrboʊˈkædˌaɪən/, /ˌkɑrboʊˈkædˌaɪˌɑn/ Chemistry.
An organic cation in which the positive charge is localized on one or more of the carbon atoms. Cf. carbanion n., carbonium n.
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carbonium1902
carbocation1960
1960 Tetrahedron 11 172 The rearrangement of chloride I to cyclobutyl and allylcarbinyl chlorides in solvolytic reactions is now well understood as an example of ‘internal return’ from an ‘intimate’ carbocation-chloride ion pair.
1980 M. Orchin et al. Vocab. Org. Chem. x. 288 The intermediate (R+) is a carbocation; attack by Y− can usually occur from either side of the carbocation.
2003 C. S. Sell Fragrant Introd. Terpenoid Chem. v. 104 One very simple thing for a carbocation to do, is to drop off an adjacent proton to give an olefin.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1960