Triphenylcarbenium ions (trityl cations: [ RPh]3C+) are broadly identified organic compounds, because of their several uses, such as protective group, a catalyst for C–C bond formation, dye chemistry, carbohydrate chemistry, oxidation and reduction reagent, polymer and peptide synthesis, chiral catalyst, activity-based probes, and photochemical reactions. Trityl cations have also been applied as neutral Lewis acids in different chemical reactions. Possibly, the trityl cation is most widely used in hydride abstraction reactions both in the study of mechanisms transformations (organometallic and organic) and in organic syntheses. Ph3C+ is also extensively applied as very efficient activators and as one-electron oxidants for olefin polymerization reactions. In this review, we explain applications of trityl moieties in chemical processes and synthesis.
