The method Carbocation generation In the basic method, a molecule is prepared where the vacant bond of the desired radical or ion is satisfied by an atom of tritium , the radioactive isotope of hydrogen with atomic mass 3. As the tritium undergoes beta decay (with a half-life of 12.32 years), it is transformed into an ion of helium-3, creating the cation . Helium hydride ion as superacid Another variant of the technique is to mix an organic reactant with molecular tritium or tritium-hydrogen . On decay, these form a stable helium hydride ion (respectively or )  . This cation is claimed to be the strongest acid known, and will protonate any other molecule it comes in contact with. This is another route to creating cations that are not obtainable in other ways. In particular (or ) will protonate methane to the carbonium ion (or      ).
 Carbocation generation In the basic method, a molecule is prepared where the vacant bond of the desired radical or ion is satisfied by an atom of tritium , the radioactive isotope of hydrogen with atomic mass 3. As the tritium undergoes beta decay (with a half-life of 12.32 years), it is transformed into an ion of helium-3, creating the cation . Persistent bound structures Whereas the carbon–helium-ion bond breaks spontaneously and immediately to yield a carbocation, bonds of other elements to helium are more stable. For example, molecular tritium or tritium-hydrogen . On decay, these form a stable helium hydride ion (respectively or ) , which is stable enough to persist . This cation is claimed to be the strongest acid known, and will protonate any other molecule it comes in contact with. This is another route to creating cations that are not obtainable in other ways. In particular (or ) will protonate methane to the carbonium ion (or ). Other structures that are expected to be stable when formed by beta-decay of tritium precursors include 3HeLi+, B2H53He+, and BeH3He+ according to theoretical calculations. Other nuclear decay processes Radioisotopic decay of other elements besides tritium can yield other stable covalent structures. For example, the first successful synthesis of the perbromate ion was through beta decay of the selenium-83 atom in selenate: → + β− Decay of iodine-133 to give xenon is reported as a route to phenylxenonium, and likewise decay of bismuth-210 in a variety of structures is reported as a route to organopolonium structures. as cited by Appelman (1973) ).
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The method
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Helium hydride ion as superacid
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Another variant of the technique is to mix an organic reactant with
Persistent bound structures Whereas the carbon–helium-ion bond breaks spontaneously and immediately to yield a carbocation, bonds of other elements to helium are more stable. For example,
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, which is stable enough to persist
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).
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Other structures that are expected to be stable when formed by beta-decay of tritium precursors include 3HeLi+, B2H53He+, and BeH3He+ according to theoretical calculations.
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Other nuclear decay processes Radioisotopic decay of other elements besides tritium can yield other stable covalent structures. For example, the first successful synthesis of the perbromate ion was through beta decay of the selenium-83 atom in selenate:
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→ + β−
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Decay of iodine-133 to give xenon is reported as a route to phenylxenonium, and likewise decay of bismuth-210 in a variety of structures is reported as a route to organopolonium structures. as cited by Appelman (1973)