Comparison of [C6H6]2+ ion structures: Application of electron capture induced decomposition to the study of isomers

Structures of [C₆H₆]²⁺ ions formed by electron impact from benzene, 2,4-hexadiyne and 1,5-hexadiyne have been investigated by the recently developed electron capture induced decomposition method, by charge-separation reactions and by ion abundances in electron impact mass spectra. Significant differences were found among the isomers indicating the structural integrity of these [C₆H₆]²⁺ ions. The observed differences indicate that the most likely atomic configuration of [C₆H₆]²⁺ ions produced from benzene and 2,4-hexadiyne is the same as in the corresponding neutral species. A new method is suggested by which the structure (atomic configuration) of doubly charged ions may be determined.     

The structures of [C4H4]+˙ ions by photodissociation in an ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer

The photodissociation of [C₄H₄]⁺˙ fragment ions at the ion cyclotron resonance time-scale competes with relaxation of the internal energy by infrared emission. As a result the fraction of photodissociating ions increases with light intensity. The experiments indicate that [C₄H₄]⁺˙ from benzene and 1,5-hexadiyne consists of a mixture of 60% vinyl acetylene ions, 10% butatriene ions and 30% cyclic ions. This confirms previous conclusions from studies of the ion-molecule reactions of [C₄H₄]⁺˙ with benzene.     

Structure of gas phase [C5H6]+˙ ions

Charge-stripping spectra have been used to differentiate ionized cyclopentadiene from its acyclic isomers. The minimum amounts of translational energy lost during the charge-stripping processes and the relative charge-stripping efficiencies, which are also structurally important parameters, have been measured for these ionic species. [C₅H₆]⁺˙ ions, formed by dissociative ionization of various precursors in the ion source are found, usually, to be a mixture of cyclic and acyclic ions. In contrast, [C₅H₆]⁺˙ ions, derived from the dissociation of metastable molecular ions from a series of organic compounds, have the cyclopentadienyl structure. This structure was confirmed by collision-induced dissociation of ions formed in the first field-free region of a triple sector mass spectrometer.     

Charge stripping mass spectra: A method for identifying isomeric [C5H8]+˙ and [C3H6]+˙ ions

Charge stripping (collisional ionization) mass spectra are reported for isomeric [C₅H₈]⁺˙ and [C₃H₆]⁺˙ ions. The results provide the first method for adequately quantitatively determining the structures and abundances of these species when they are generated as daughter ions. Thus, loss of H₂O from the molecular ions of cyclopentanol and pentanal is shown to produce mixtures of ionized penta-1,3- and -1,4-dienes. Pent-1-en-3-ol generates [penta-1,3-diene]⁺˙. [C₃H₆]⁺˙ ions from ionized butane, methylpropane and 2-methylpropan-1-ol are shown to have the [propene]⁺˙ structure, whereas [cyclopropane]⁺˙ is produced from ionized tetrahydrofuran, penta-1,3-diene and pent-1-yne.     

[C6H6, C3H7 +]and [C6H7 +, C3H6] ion-neutral complexes intermediate in the reactions of protonated propylbenzenes

From the mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra of labelled ions, kinetic energy releases and thermodynamic data, it is proved that protonated n-propylbenzene (1) isomerizes into protonated isopropyl benzene (2). It is also shown that the dissociation of the less energetic metastable ions of (2), leading to [iso-C₃H₇]⁺ and [C₆H₇]⁺ product ions, is preceded by H exchange. This H exchange involves two interconverting ion-neutral complexes [C₆H₆, iso-C₃H₇⁺] (2π) and [C₆H₇⁺, C₃H₆] (2α).     

The effect of vibrational energy content on the neutralization–reionization mass spectra of [H2]+˙ ions

Neutralization-reionization experiments were performed on beams of [H²]⁺˙ ions of different, known vibrational energy content using a variety of neutralization target gases (Xe, H₂, Ne) and reionization gases (He, O₂). The recovery of [H₂]⁺˙ ions was found to be only weakly dependent on the vibrational energy of the original [H₂]⁺˙ ions. The ion kinetic energy spectra of H⁺ fragments from the neutralization-reionization experiments were independent of the collision gas; the processes by which they were generated were identified.     

Charge inversion as a structural probe for C6H 5 + and C6H 6 +· cations

Charge reversal (⁺CR⁻) of cations to anions can be used to structurally differentiate isomeric C₆H₅⁺ and C₆H₆^+· hydrocarbon ions by means of tandem mass spectrometry. In view of the manifold of possible isomers, only a few prototype precursors are examined. Thus, charge inversion demonstrates that electron ionization of 2,4-hexadiyne yields an intact molecular ion, whereas the charge inversion spectra of C₆H₆^+· obtained from benzene, 1,5-hexadiyne, and fulvene are identical within experimental error. Similarly, the ⁺CR⁻ spectrum of the C₆H₅⁺ cation generated by dissociative ionization of 2,4-hexadiyne is significantly different from the ⁺CR⁻ spectrum of C₆H₅⁺ obtained from iodobenzene, suggesting the formation of a 2,4-hexadiynyl cation from the former precursor. Although charge inversion of cations to anions has a low efficiency and requires large precursor ion fluxes, the particular value of this method is that the spectra may not just differ in fragment ion intensities, but these differences can directly be related to the underlying ion structures.     

[C7H7]+ and [C6H5]+ fragment ions produced from methylphenol isomers by electron impact

Appearance energies for [C₇H₇]⁺ and [C₆H₅]⁺ fragment ions obtained from methylphenol isomers were measured at the threshold using the electron impact technique. Different processes for the formation of the ions are suggested and discussed. Metastable peaks were detected and the kinetic energies released were determined. The results indicate that [C₇H₇]⁺ ions are formed from metbylpbenois with both benzyl and tropylium structures, whereas [C₆H₅]⁺ ions are formed with the phenyl structure at the detected thresholds. Kinetic energies released on fragmentation of reactive [ C₇H₇]⁺ and [C₆H₅]⁺ ions were used as a probe for the structure of the ions at 70 eV.     

A study of [C7H8]+˙ and [C7H8]2+ ions formed from different precursor molecules

On the basis of unimolecular and collisionally activated decompositions, as well as their charge stripping behaviour, [C₇H₈]⁺˙ and [C₇H₈]²⁺ ions from a variety of precursors have been studied. In particular, structural characteristics of molecular ions of toluene, cycloheptatriene, norborna-2,5-diene and quadricyclane have been compared to those of [C₇H₈]⁺˙ and [C₇H₈]²⁺ rearrangement fragment ions obtained from n-butylbenzene, 2-phenylethanol and n-pentylbenzene. Severe interferences from [C₇H₇]^2+˙ ion fragmentations have been observed and rationalized.     

The decompositions of metastable [C4H8O]+˙ ions and the [C4H8O]+˙ potential surface

Collisionally activated decomposition (CA) spectra of [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions and the products of their metastable decompositions are used to refine a previously presented picture of the reactions of [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions. Metastable [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ isomers predominantly rearrange to the 2-butanone ion and decompose by loss of methyl and ethyl, although up to 38% of the methyl losses take place by other pathways to form \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{2}} = {\rm{CHCH = }}\mathop {\rm{O}}\limits^{\rm{ + }} {\rm{H}}{\rm{.}} $\end{document} . The CA spectra of many of the [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions with the oxygen on the first carbon are very similar, consistent with those ions isomerizing largely to common structures before or after collision. However, several of these ions have unique CA spectra, so they must remain structurally distinct from the majority of the [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions below energies required for decomposition. The CA spectra of ions with the oxygen on the second carbon are distinct from those of ions with the oxygen on the first carbon, so there is limited interconversion of the non-decomposing forms of the two types of ions. A potential energy diagram for the reactions of metastable [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions is constructed from appearance energy measurements. As would be expected, the relative importances of most of the [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ isomerizations seem to be inversely related to the activation energies for those processes. Some parallels between the isomerizations of [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions and those of related ions are pointed out.     

Energy dependence of the fragmentation of some isomeric [C6H12]+˙ ions

The charge exchange mass spectra of 14 C₆H₁₂ isomers have been determined using [CS₂]^+˙, [COS]^+˙, [Xe]^+˙, [CO]^+˙, [N₂]^+˙ and [Ar]^+˙ as the major reactant ions covering the recombination energy range from ∼10.2 eV to ∼15.8 eV. From the charge exchange data breakdown graphs have been constructed expressing the energy dependence of the fragmentation of the isomeric [C₆H₁₂]^+˙ molecular ions. The electron impact mass spectra are discussed in relation to these breakdown graphs and approximate internal energy distribution functions derived from photoelectron spectra.     

The question of cyclic versus acyclic ions: The structure of [C10H12]+˙ gas phase ions

The extent of isomerization of acyclic and cyclic gas phase radical cations of composition [C₁₀H₁₂]⁺˙ has been investigated by using collisionally activated dissociation spectroscopy. Both electron and charge exchange ionizaiton were employed to form the ions with various internal energies. The [C₁₀H₁₂]⁺˙ ions investigated consisted of ionized phenylbutenes, ring-substituted methyl derivatives of allylbenzene and phenylpropene, 1-methyl-2-isopropenylbenzene, benzylcyclopropane, phenylcyclobutane, tetralin and 1-methylindan. The 1-methylindan and tetralin radical cations are the most stable of the C₁₀H₁₂ isomeric radical ions. The [C₁₀H₁₂]⁺˙ formed from acyclic olefins having the double bond in conjugation with the aromatic ring retain the initial structure to a significant extent. However, ions derived from olefins with the double bond out of conjugation with the benzene ring preferentially cyclize to stable five- and six-membered cyclic ions. Ring opening of small-ring cyclic ions, such as ionized benzylcyclopropane and phenylcyclobutane, occurs, followed by ring closure to the tetralin radical cation.     

A reinvestigation of the collisional activation mass spectra of [C7H7]+ ion mixtures

The collisional activation (CA) mass spectra of the two isomeric [C₇H₇]⁺ ions, benzyl and tropyl, have been reassessed. The structure-characteristic feature of their CA mass spectra, the m/z 77:74 abundance ratio, has been confirmed as 3.15 ± 0.2 for benzyl cations and lowered to 035 ± 03 for tropyl ions. Benzyl–tropyl cation mixture analyses were made and were in general agreement with earlier CA results, but still disagree with the results of ion cyclotron resonance experiments. The behavior of toluene molecular ions close to their dissociation threshold to [C₇H₇]⁺ + H˙ was examined; for metastable [C₇H₈]⁺˙ ions an approximately 55:45 benzyl:tropyl ratio was found. Observations are discussed in relation to photoionization and photoelecrron-photoionization coincidence studies, both of which predict high tropyl ion contents at low energies. However, at the lowest energies attainable in this study the benzyl content failed to fall below 50% and it is concluded that toluene molecular ions do not generate tropyl cations at their dissociation limit.     

Electron impact mass spectrometry of [C7H8N]+ and [C6H7]+ and [C6H7]+ fragment ions produced from o-toluidine and N-methylaniline

An energetic study of the production of [C₇H₈N]⁺ and [C₆H₇]⁺ fragment ions from o-toluidine and N-methylaniline is reported. The mechanisms for the formation of the ions are suggested. Metastable peaks associated with the formation and fragmentation of reactive [C₇H₈N]⁺ and [C₆H₇]⁺ ions were detected and kinetic energy released were determined. The results indicate that the [C₇H₈N]⁺ ion is formed at threshold from o-toluidine with an aminotropylium structure whereas for N-methylaniline the ion is formed with anN-phenylmethaniminium structure. [C₆H₇]⁺ ions are believed to be formed at threshold from the two precursors with a protonated benzene structure.     

Ion structural studies by ion kinetic energy spectrometry: [C7H7]+, [C7H8]+˙, [C7H7OCH3]+˙

The use of kinetic energy release measurements in the structural characterization of ions formed in the mass spectrometer and in the determination of fragmentation mechanisms is demonstrated. In combination with information on the mode of energy partitioning in some of these reactions this allows the following conclusions: (i) The metastable [C₇H₈]⁸˙ ions formed from toluene, cyclohepatatriene, n-butylbenzene, the three methyl anisoles, methyl tropyl ether and benzyl methyl ether all undergo loss of H˙ from a common structure. (ii) The metastable [C₇H₇]⁺ ions generated from the same sources and from benzyl bromide, benzyl alcohol, p-xylene and ethylbenzene appear to undergo loss of acetylene from both the benzylic and the tropylium structures. (iii) The metastable [C₇H₇OCH₃]⁺˙ ether molecular ions undergo loss of CH₃˙ by two types of mechanism, simple cleavage to give the aryloxy cation (not observed for benzyl methyl ether) and a rearrangement process which appears to lead to protonated tropone as the product. (iv) Loss of formaldehyde from the metastable [C₇H₇OCH₃]⁺˙ molecular ions involves hydrogen transfer via competitive 4- and 5-membered cyclic transition states in the case of the anisoles and in the case of methyl tropyl ether, while for benzyl methyl ether, hydrogen transfer in the nonisomerized molecular ion occurs via a 4-membered cyclic transition state to yield the cycloheptatriene molecular ion.     

Isomerisation of hydrocarbon ions III–[C8H8]+·, [C8H8]2+, [C6H6]+· AND [C6H5]+ IONS

Collisional activation spectra of [C₈H₈]⁺·, [C₈H₈]²⁺, [C₆H₆]⁺· and [C₆H₅]⁺ ions from fifteen different sources are reported. Decomposing [C₈H₈]⁺· ions of ten of these precursors isomerise to a mixture of mainly the cyclooctatetraene and, to a smaller extent, the styrene structure. Three additional structures are observed with [C₈H₈]⁺· ions from the remaining precursors. [C₈H₈]^2+., [C₈H₈]⁺·, [C₆H₆]⁺· and [C₆H₅]⁺· ions mostly decompose from common structures although some exceptions are reported.     

Laser-ion beam photodissociation studies of C4H4 radical cations

The laser-ion beam photodissociation for [C₄H₄]⁺˙ ions produced from a variety of precursors has been studied. Based on the data it is apparent that two structurally distinct forms of the [C₄H₄]⁺˙ ion are produced by fragmentation of larger systems. The relative population of the various structural forms is very dependent on the internal energy of the fragmenting ion, with 1-buten-3-yne [C₄H₄]⁺˙ ions being favored at low internal energies. As the internal energy of the reactant ion is increased, the relative population of butatriene [C₄H₄]⁺˙ ions increases. The laser-ion beam photodissociation technique is able to selectively sample these two structural forms.     

Collisional activation mass spectra of [C6H8]+ ions

Collisional activation spectra and isotopic labeling indicate that for [C₆H₈]⁺ ions at least six stable isomers can be formed from a variety of precursors.     

Metastable [C4H8O]+˙ ions: Additional decompositions via the [2-butanone]+˙ ion

The losses of methyl and ethyl through the intermediacy of the [2-butanone]⁺˙ ion are shown to be the dominant metastable decomposition of 14 of 19 [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions examined. The ions that decompose via the [2-butanone]⁺˙ structure include ionized aldehydes, unsaturated and cyclic alcohols and enolic ions. [Cyclic ether]⁺˙ [cyclopropylmethanol]⁺˙ and [2-methyl-1-propen-1-ol]⁺˙ ions do not decompose through ionized 2-butanone. The rearrangements of various [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions the the 2-butanone ion were investigated by means of deuterium labeling. Those pathways involve up to eight steps. Ions with the oxygen on the end carbon rearrange to a common structure or mixture of structures. Those ions which ultimately rearrange to the [2-butanone]⁺˙ ion then undergo oxygen shifts from the terminal to the second and third carbons at about equal rates. However, this oxygen shift does not precede the losses of water and ethylene. Losses of water and ethylene were unimportant for ions with the oxygen initially on the second carbon. Ionized n-butanal and cyclobutanol, but not other [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions, undergo reversible hydrogen exchange between the oxygen and the terminal carbon. Rearrangement of ionized n-butanal to the [cyclobutanol]⁺˙ ion is postulated.     

Doubly charged ion mass spectra: III—N-alkanes

Doubly charged ion mass spectra have been obtained for 15 n-alkane hydrocarbons. Spectra were measured using a Nier-Johnson geometry Hitachi RMU-7L mass spectrometer operated at 1.6kV accelerating voltage. Fragment ions, which resulted from C? C bond rupture and extensive H loss, dominated the spectra. Molecular ions have not been observed. The most intense ions in the doubly charged ion mass spectra of n-alkanes were [C₂H₄]²⁺, [C₃H₂]²⁺, [C₄H₃]²⁺, [C₅H₂]²⁺, [C₆H₆]²⁺, [C₆H₈]²⁺, [C₇H₆]²⁺, [C₇H₈]²⁺, [C₈H₆]²⁺ and [C₈H₈]²⁺. Appearance energies for forming the prominent doubly charged fragment ions have been measured and range from 27.5 eV to energies greater than 60eV. A geometry optimized SCF approach has been used to compute the energies and structures of prominent ions in the doubly charged mass spectra.