Ab initio MO calculations indicate that the effect of protonation of third-row X (X = Ge, As, Se, Br) in
CH3XH
n
, C2H5XH
n
, C2H3XH
n
, and C2HXH
n
is similar to that of first- and second-row X; specifically, both
the CX homolytic bond dissociation energies (BDEs) and (except for As and the ethynyl compounds) the CX
bond lengths (BLs) increase. Deprotonation decreases the CX BDE for saturated compounds, an electronegativity effect, but increases it for unsaturated ones (except Ge), a resonance effect; correspondingly, the
CX BLs increase in saturated and decrease in unsaturated compounds (except Ge). Heterolytic CX dissociation
of third-row RCXH
n
+1
+ to RC+ and XH
n
+1 is often favored over the homolytic process when XH
n
+1 is
electronegative relative to the hydrocarbon moiety (XH
n
+1 = AsH3, SeH2, BrH); the corresponding dissociation
of RCXH
n
-
1
- to RC- and XH
n
-
1 similarly may be favored for RC = ethynyl and X
n
-
1 low in electronegativity
(XH
n
-
1 = GeH2
-, AsH-, Se-). The CC BDEs are also affected by protonation of X; protonation increases
the CC BDEs and usually shortens the CC bond, while deprotonation does the opposite.