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In associative charge transfer (ACT) reactions, a core ion activates ligand molecules by partial charge transfer. The activated ligand polymerizes, and the product oligomer takes up the full charge from the core ion. In the present system, benzene^+• (Bz^+•) reacts with two propene (Pr) molecules to form a covalently bonded ion, C₆H₆^+• + 2 C₃H₆ → C₆H₁₂^+• + C₆H₆. The ACT reaction is activated by a partial charge transfer from Bz^+• to Pr in the complex, and driven to completion by the formation of a covalent bond in the polymerized product. An alternative channel forms a stable association product (Bz·Pr)^+•, with an ACT/association product ratio of 60:40% that is independent of pressure and temperature. In contrast to the Bz^+•/propene system, ACT polymerization is not observed in the Bz^+•/ethylene (Et) system since charge transfer in the Bz^+•(Et) complex is inefficient to activate the reaction. The roles of charge …