直到1970年代早期,碳陽離子都被視為碳離子。在近代的化學中,帶正電的碳原子就視作一個碳陽離子。根據碳原子的價數可以分成兩大類:三價的碳離子(質子化的碳烯),或五到六價的碳離子(質子化的烷類),而命名法為乔治·安德鲁·欧拉(George A. Olah)所發表,碳正離子能藉由分散或离域正電荷來達到穩定。
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George A. Olah (1972), "Stable carbocations. CXVIII. General concept and structure of carbocations based on differentiation of trivalent (classical) carbenium ions from three-center bound penta- of tetracoordinated (nonclassical) carbonium ions. Role of carbocations in electrophilic reactions." Journal of the American Chemical Society, volume 94, issue 3, pages 808–820
Organic Chemistry, Fourth Edition Paula Yurkanis Bruice ISBN 0-13-140748-1
Clayden, Jonathan; Greeves, Nick; Warren, Stuart; Wothers, Peter (2001). Organic Chemistry (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-850346-0.
Organic Chemistry by Marye Anne Fox and James K. Whitesell ISBN 0-7637-0413-X
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Rzepa, H. S.; Allan, C. S. M. (2010). "Racemization of Isobornyl Chloride via Carbocations: A Nonclassical Look at a Classic Mechanism". Journal of Chemical Education 87 (2)
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The 7-norbornadienyl carbonium ion Paul R. Story and Martin Saunders J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 1960; 82(23) pp 6199 - 6199
George A. Olah - Nobel Lecture
Stable Carbonium Ions. XVII.1a Cyclopropyl Carbonium Ions and Protonated Cyclopropyl Ketones Charles U. Pittman Jr., George A. Olah J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1965, 87 (22), pp 5123–5132