Structure and formation of gaseous [C4H5O]+ ions. I—isomeric ions of the type C3H5\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O

Characterization of [C₄H₅O]⁺ ions in the gas phase using their collisional activation spectra shows that the four C₃H₅\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O isomers CH₂?C(CH₃)\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O, CH₂?CHCH₂\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O, CH₃CH?CH\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O and ?? \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O are stable for ≥ 10^?5 s. It is concluded further from the characteristic shapes for the unimolecular loss of CO from C₃H₅\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O ions generated from a series of precursor molecules that the CH₂?CH(CH₃)\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O- and CH₂?CHCH₂\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O-type ions dissociate over different potential surfaces to yield [allyl]⁺ and [2-propenyl]⁺ [C₃H₅]⁺ product ions respectively. Cyclopropyl carbonyl-type ions lose CO with a large kinetic energy release, which points to ring opening in the transition state, whereas this loss from CH₃CH?CH\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + =\!= $\end{document}O-type ions is proposed to occur via a rate determining 1,2-H shift to yield 2-propenyl cations.     

Assigning structures to [C2H3O]+ ions

The problem of assigning structures to [C₂H₃O]⁺ ions produced from a wide variety of precursor molecules has been readdressed. The identification of the acetyl cation, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{3}} \mathop {\rm{C}}\limits^{\rm{ + }} = {\rm{O}} $\end{document}, from metastable peak characteristics and collisional activation mass spectra appears to be straightforward. The structure \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{2}} = \mathop {\rm{C}}\limits^{\rm{ + }} - {\rm{OH}} $\end{document} is also known to exist as a stable ion. A third ion, whose structure may be represented as \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm{C}}\limits^{\rm{ + }} {\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}} {\rm{CHO}} $\end{document} or has also been characterized.     

Structures and relative energies of gas-phase [C2H7N]+˙ radical cations

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations with split-valence plus polarization basis sets and incorporating electron correlation and zero-point energy corrections have been used to examine possible equilibrium structures on the [C₂H₇N]⁺˙ surface. In addition to the radical cations of ethylamine and dimethylamine, three other isomers were found which have comparable energy, but which have no stable neutral counterparts. These are \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm H}_{\rm 2} {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 3} $\end{document}, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm H}\mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 3} $\end{document}and\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} \mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm C}\limits^. {\rm H}_{\rm 2} {\rm }, $\end{document} with calculated energies relative to the ethylamine radical cation of ?33, ?28 and 4 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Substantial barriers for rearrangement among the various isomers and significant binding energies with respect to possible fragmentation products are found. The predictions for \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^. {\rm H}_{\rm 2} {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm N}\limits^ + {\rm H}_{\rm 3} $\end{document} and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm H}\mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 3}$\end{document} are consistent with their recent observation in the gas phase. The remaining isomer, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} \mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm H}_{\rm 2} {\rm },$\end{document}is also predicted to be experimentally observable.     

Stable [C2H7O2]+ isomers: Experimental and theoretical evidence for the existence of protonated peroxides and proton-bound dimers in the gas phase

Evidence is presented for the gas phase generation of at least eight stable isomeric [C₂H₇O₂]⁺ ions. These include energy-rich protonated peroxides (ions \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH}_2 {\rm O}\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2} $\end{document} (e), \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm (H)OH} $\end{document} (f) and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm O}\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm (H)CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm (g)),} $\end{document} (g)), proton-bound dimers (ions \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH = O} \cdot \cdot \cdot \mathop {\rm H}\limits^{\rm 3} \cdot \cdot \cdot {\rm OH}_{\rm 2} $\end{document} (h) and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH2 = O} \cdot \cdot \cdot \mathop {\rm H}\limits^{\rm + } \cdot \cdot \cdot {\rm HOCH}_{\rm 3} $\end{document} (i)) and hydroxy-protonated species (ions \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} {\rm (OH)CH}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2} (a), $\end{document} \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH(OH)}\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2} $\end{document} (b) and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm OCH}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2} $\end{document} (c)). The important points of the present study are (i) that these ions are prevented by high barriers from facile interconversion and (ii) that both electron-impact- and proton-induced gas phase decompositions seem to proceed via multistep reactions, some of which eventually result in the formation of proton-bound dimers.     

[C3H3O]+ ions; reacting and non-reacting configurations

Three [C₃H₃O]⁺ ion structures have been characterized. The most stable of these is \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} = {\rm CH} - \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + = {\rm O} $\end{document} its heat of formation ΔH_f was measured as 749±5 kJ mol^?1. In the μs time frame this ion fragments exclusively by loss of CO, a process which also dominates its collisional activation mass spectrum. The other stable [C₃H₃O]⁺ structures, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}\equiv \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + - {\rm CHOH} $\end{document} and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} = {\rm C} = \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } - {\rm OH}, $\end{document}, were generated from some acetylenic and allenic precursor ions; their heats of formation were estimated to be 830 and 880 kJ mol^?1 respectively. The former ion was also produced by the gas phase protonation of propynal. These ions show loss of C₂H₂ and CO in both their metastable ion and collisional activation mass spectra. The broad Gaussian-type metastable peak for the loss of CO was shown to consist of two components corresponding to gragmentations having different activation energies.     

Potential energy profiles for unimolecular reactions of organic ions: [C3H8N]+ and [C3H7O]+

The unimolecular decompositions of two isomers of [C₃H₈N]⁺, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} {\rm CH} = \mathop {\rm N}\limits^ + {\rm H}_2 $\end{document} and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm N}\limits^ + {\rm H = CH}_{\rm 2} $\end{document}, are discussed in terms of the potential energy profile over which reaction may be considered to occur. The energy needed to promote slow (metastable) dissociations of either ion is found to be less than that required to cause isomerization to the other structure. This finding is supported by the observation of different decomposition pathways, different metastable peak shapes for C₂H₄ loss, the results of ²H labelling studies, and energy measurements on the two ions. The corresponding potential energy profile for decomposition of the oxygen analogues, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} {\rm CH =\!= }\mathop {\rm O}\limits^ + {\rm H} $\end{document} and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm O}\limits^ + {\rm = CH}_{\rm 2} $\end{document}, is compared and contrasted with that proposed for the [C₃H₈N]⁺ isomers. This analysis indicates that for the oxygen analogues, the energy needed to decompose either ion is very similar to that required to cause isomerization to the other structure. Consequently, dissociation of either ion is finely balanced with rearrangement to the other and similar reactions are observed. Detailed mechanisms are proposed for loss of H₂O and C₂H₄ from each ion and it is shown that these mechanisms are consistent with ²H and ¹³C labelling studies, the kinetic energy release associated with each decomposition channel, the relative competition between H₂O and C₂H₄ loss and energy measurements.     

The vinyloxonium cation, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm CH}_{\rm 2} = {\rm CH - }\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2}$\end{document}, a stable [C2H5O]+ species in the gas phase

The charge stripping mass spectra of [C₂H₅O]⁺ ions permit the clear identification of four distinct species: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm CH}_{\rm 3} - {\rm O - }\mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2}$\end{document}, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm CH}_{\rm 3} - \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H - OH}$\end{document}, and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm CH}_{\rm 2} = {\rm CH - }\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}_{\rm 2}$\end{document}. The latter, the vinyloxonium ion, has not been identified before. It is generated from ionized n-butanol and 1,3-propanediol. Its heat of formation is estimated to be 623±12 kJ mol^?1. The charge stripping method is more sensitive to these ion structures than conventional collisional activation, which focuses attention on singly charged fragment ions.     

Propanoyl ion formation from metastable [C3H6O]+˙ ions

Collisionally activated spectra demonstrate that CH₃CH₂C?O⁺ rather than \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm CH}_{\rm 2} = {\rm CHCH = }\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H}$\end{document} is formed in the metastable losses of hydrogen from [C₃H₆O]^+˙ ions with the oxygen on the first carbon. This provides another example of formation of an acyl ion following ‘ketonization’ prior to metastable decomposition.     

Structure and formation of some [C4H5O2]+ ions generated by radical losses in pseudo simple cleavage reactions

Characterization of some [C₄H₅O₂]⁺ ions in the gas phase using their collisional activation mass spectra shows that the isomeric ions \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_3 {\rm OCH = CH} - \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + {\rm = O,} $\end{document} and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm HC} \equiv {\rm C} - \mathop {{\rm C}({\rm OH}){\rm OCH}_3 }\limits^ + $\end{document} are stable for t?10^?5 s. Of these, ions of structure were generated by the site specific gas phase protonation of γ-crotonolactone with isobutane or methanol as chemical ionization reagent gases. These results and those derived from measurements on some ²H, ¹³C and ¹⁸O labelled [C₄H₅O₂]⁺ product ions, were used to study the mechanisms of unimolecular radical elimination reactions, viz. (1) loss of CH₃˙ from [trans-methyl crotonate], (2) loss of H˙ from [methyl acrylate]⁺˙, (3) loss of H˙ from [cyclopropane carboxylic acid]⁺˙ and (4) loss of CH₃˙ from [1,3-dimethoxypropyne]⁺˙. It is concluded that none of these losses occur by simple bond cleavage. Mechanisms are presented which account for the observation that the first three reactions yield product ions of structure whereas the ions generated by reaction (4) have structure \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_3 {\rm OCH = CH} - \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + {\rm = O}{\rm .} $\end{document}. It is further proposed that a minor fraction of the [M-CH₃]⁺ ions from ionized trans-methyl crotonate is generated via a rearrangement process which yields ions of structure \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_3 {\rm OCH = CH} - \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + {\rm = O}{\rm .} $\end{document}.     

Structure and formation of gaseous [C4H5O]+ ions. IV—Ions derived from the cyclopropenium ion [C3H3]+

Characterization of [C₄H₅O]⁺ ions in the gas phase using their metastable ion and collisional activation spectra shows that the three isomeric ions HC?C? \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}H? OCH₃, CH₃O? \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}?C?CH₂ and ? OCH₃ related to the two stable [C₃H₃]⁺ cations [HC?C? CH₂]⁺ and are stable for ≥ 10^?5s. In contrast to the formation of cyclopropenium ions, it is found that the methoxy cyclopropenium ion is not generated from acyclic precursor molecules. The small but significant intensity differences found in the collisional activation spectra of [C₃H₃]⁺ ions generated from HC?C? CH₂I and HC?C? CH₂Cl possibly indicate the presence of [C₃H₃]⁺ ions of different structures.     

On the shift of H2O between the carbons of the radical cation [CH2CH2OH2]+˙

Computations predict that H₂O will shift rapidly between the carbons of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm H}_2 {\rm CH}_2 \mathop {\rm O}\limits^ + {\rm H}_2 $\end{document} over most of the energy range between the threshold for formation of the ion and the onset of its decomposition. This prediction is important to understanding the relationships and contrasts between the chemistries of free radicals and carbonium ions. We present experimental evidence that the theoretical predictions are correct.     

Differentiation of tautomers by ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm (CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm)}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm = CH}_{\rm 2} {\rm vs H}_{\rm 3} {\rm C}\mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H = CHCH}_{\rm 3}$\end{document}

Ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry and deuterium labeling have been used to determine that nondecomposing \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm (CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm)}_{\rm 2} \mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm = CH}_{\rm 2}$\end{document} ions do not isomerize to \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm CH = }\mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm HCH}_{\rm 3}$\end{document}.     

Gas phase ion chemistry of methyl acetate,methyl propanoate and their enolic tautomers. An experimental approach

From a combination of isotopic substitution, time-resolved measurements and sequential collision experiments, it was proposed that whereas ionized methyl acetate prior to fragmentation rearranges largely into \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_3 \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + ({\rm OH}){\rm O}\mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm H}_2 $\end{document}, in contrast, methyl propanoate molecular ions isomerize into \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^. {\rm H}_2 {\rm CH}_2 \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + ({\rm OH}){\rm OCH}_3 $\end{document}. Metastably fragmenting methyl acetate molecular ions are known predominantly to form H₂?OH together with \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_3 - \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + = {\rm O} $\end{document}, whereas ionized methyl propanoate largely yields H₃CO˙ together with \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_3 {\rm CH}_2 - \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + = {\rm O} $\end{document}. The observations were explained in terms of the participation of different distonic molecular ions. The enol form of ionized methyl acetate generates substantially more H₃CO˙ in admixture with H₂?OH than the keto tautomer. This is ascribed to the rearrangement of the enol ion to the keto form being partially rate determining, which results in a wider range of internal energies among metastably fragmenting enol ions. Extensive ab initio calculations at a high level of theory would be required to establish detailed reaction mechanisms.     

Structure and formation of gaseous [C4H5O]+ Ions. II–Ions of the type HCC?\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}(OH)(CH3)

Loss of an alkyl group X? from acetylenic alcohols HC?C? CX(OH)(CH₃) and gas phase protonation of HC?C? CO? CH₃ are both shown to yield stable HC?C? \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}(OH)(CH₃) ions. Ions of this structure are unique among all other [C₄H₅O]⁺ isomers by having m/z 43 [C₂H₃O]⁺ as base peak in both the metastable ion and collisional activation spectra. It is concluded that the composite metastable peak for formation of m/z 43 corresponds to two distinct reaction profiles which lead to the same product ion, CH₃\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}?O, and neutral, HC?CH. It is further shown that the [C₄H₅O]⁺ ions from related alcohols (like HC?C? CH(OH)(CH₃)) which have an α-H atom available for isomerization into energy rich allenyl type molecular ions, consist of a second stable structure, H₂C?\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}? C(OH)?CH₂.     

Three new isomers of [C2H6O]+˙: The radical cations [CH3O(H)CH2]+˙, [CH3CHOH2]+˙ and a low-energy isomer of unassigned structure

Three new [C₂H₆O]⁺˙ ions have been generated in the gas phase by appropriate dissociative ionizations and characterized by means of their metastable and collisionally induced fragmentations. The heats of formation, ΔH_f⁰, of the two ions which were assigned the structures [CH₃O(H)CH₂]⁺˙ and [CH₃CHOH₂]⁺˙ could not be measured. The third isomer, to which the structure \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} = \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm H} \cdot \cdot \cdot \mathop {\rm H}\limits^ + \cdot \cdot \cdot {\rm OH}_{\rm 2} $\end{document} is tentatively assigned, was measured to have ΔH_f⁰ = 732±5 kJ mol^?1, making it the [C₂H₆O]⁺˙ isomer of lowest experimental heat of formation. It was found that the exothermic ion–radical recombinations [CH₂OH]⁺+CH₃˙→[CH₃O(H)CH₂]⁺˙ and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm HOH + H}^{\rm .} $\end{document}→[CH₃CHOH₂]⁺˙ have large energy barriers, 1.4 and ?0.9 eV, respectively, whereas the recombinations yielding [CH₃CH₂OH]⁺˙ have little or none.     

The formation of [CH3CH2C(OH)CH2]+˙ from 1-hepten-3-ol

The [C₄H₈O]^+˙ ion in the mass spectrum of 1-hepten-3-ol is shown to be \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{3}} {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{2}} {\rm{C(= }}\mathop {\rm{O}}\limits^{\rm{ + }} {\rm{H}})\mathop {\rm{C}}\limits^{\rm{.}} {\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}} $\end{document} by collisional activation spectra, appearance energies and comparison of the ratios of the intensities of metastable decompositions. [C₄H₈O]^+˙ appears to be formed by rearrangement of ionized 1-hepten-3-ol to \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{3}} \mathop {\rm{C}}\limits^{\rm{.}} {\rm{HC(= }}\mathop {\rm{O}}\limits^{\rm{ + }} {\rm{H)CH}}_{\rm{2}} {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{2}} {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{2}} {\rm{CH}}_{\rm{3}} $\end{document} followed by γ-hydrogen rearrangement-β-cleavage.     

The formation of the styryl ion in the mass spectra of cinnamyl compounds

The formation of the styryl ion \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm PhCH = }\mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H} $\end{document} in the mass spectra of some cinnamic compounds is shown to occur via the intermediate formation of the cinnamoyl ion \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm Ph} - {\rm CH} = {\rm CH} - {\rm C} \equiv \mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document} rather than by direct cleavage of the bond α to the double bond.     

Structure and formation of gaseous [C4H5O]+ ions. III—Ions derived from unsaturated ethers

The abundant [C₄H₅O]⁺ (m/z 69) ions found in the 70 eV mass spectra of a series of acetylenic, allenylic and unsaturated cyclic ethers are shown to have the following structures: HC?C? \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}H? OCH₃ (e), H₂C?C?—OCH₃ (f), (g) and H? C?C? CH₂—O\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}H₂ (h). Of these, the cyclic ion g is the most stable: its ion enthalpy (≥ 165 kcal mol^?1) is close to that found for the acyclic C₃H₅\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}? O isomers identified in a previous study. Evidence that these four isomeric [C₄H₅O]⁺ ions are stable species with lifetimes ≥ 10^?5 s is obtained from their collisional activation spectra, the shape of the metastable peaks and the associated kinetic energy release values for the common loss of CO, thermochemical information and analysis of deuterium and carbon-13 labelled precursor molecules. It is further shown that loss of X? from ethers of the type X? C?C? CH₂OCH₃ involves isomerization into energy rich allenyl type ions [(X)HC?C?CHOCH₃]⁺˙ . These ions undergo loss of X? by simple bond cleavage, yielding, e type product ions, when the C? X bond strength is relatively low (X?I, Br). When X?Cl and especially CH₃ or H, X? is only lost after rearrangement yielding the cyclic product ion g. The mechanism for this cyclization reaction is related to that proposed in a previous study for the ester→ acid isomerization in the molecular ions of the esters of α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acids.     

Pyrolysis of dimethyl peroxide

By using isobutane (t-BuH) as a radical trapit has been possible to study the initial step in the decomposition of dimethyl peroxide (DMP) over the temperature range of 110–140°C in a static system. For low concentrations of DMP (2.5 × 10^?5?10^?4M) and high pressures of t?BuH (～0.9 atm) the first-order homogeneous rate of formation of methanol (MeOH) is a direct measure of reaction (1): \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm DMP}\mathop \to \limits^1 2{\rm Me}\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .},{\rm Me}\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .} + t{\rm - BuH}\mathop \to \limits^4 {\rm MeOH} + t{\rm -}\mathop {\rm B}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm u}$\end{document}. For complete decomposition of DMP in t-BuH, virtually all of the DMP is converted to MeOH. Thus DMP is a clean thermal source of Me\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .}$\end{document}. In the decomposition of pure DMP complications arise due to the H-abstraction reactions of Me\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .}$\end{document} from DMP and the product CH₂O. The rate constant for reaction (1) is given by k₁ = 10^15.5?37.0/θ sec^?1, very similar to other dialkyl peroxides. The thermochemistry leads to the result D(MeO? OMe) = 37.6 ± 0.2 kcal/mole and /H(Me\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .}$\end{document}) = 3.8 ± 0.2 kcal/mole. It is concluded that D(RO? OR) and D(RO? H) are unaffected by the nature of R. From ΔS and A₁, k₂ is calculated to be 10^10.3±0.5 M^?1· sec^?1: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$2{\rm Me}\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .} \mathop \to \limits^2 {\rm DMP}$\end{document}. For complete reaction, trace amounts of t-BuOMe lead to the result k₂ ～ 10⁹ M^?1 ·sec^?1: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$2t{\rm - Bu}\mathop \to \limits^5$\end{document} products. From the relationship k₆ = 2(k₂k_5a)^1/2 and with k_5a = 10^8.4 M^?1 · sec^?1, we arrive at the result k₆ = 10^9.7 M^?1 · sec^?1: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$2t{\rm - u}\mathop {\rm B}\limits^{\rm .} \to (t{\rm - Bu)}_{\rm 2}{\rm,}t{\rm -}\mathop {\rm B}\limits^{\rm .} {\rm u} + {\rm Me}\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .} \mathop \to \limits^6 t{\rm - BuOMe}$\end{document}.     

Bifunctional even-electron ions. II. Fragmentation behaviour of aliphatic ω-hydroxy and ω-methoxy methoxonium ions

Bifunctional methoxonium ions \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm R} -\mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + ({\rm OCH}_3 ) - ({\rm CH}_2 )_{\rm n} - {\rm OH}({\rm b}) $\end{document} and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm R} - \mathop {\rm C}\limits^ + ({\rm OCH}_3 ) - ({\rm CH}_2 )_{\rm n} - {\rm OCH}_3 ({\rm c}) $\end{document} (c) show as the main reactions those caused by functional group interaction, as has already been found for the analogous hydroxonium ions (g). Although there are similarities in the fragmentation behaviour of the isomeric ions b and g, their fragmentation pathways are different, proving b and g as distinct species. The dominant primary fragmentation for b and c is loss of CH₃OH. The hydrogen migrations prior to this reaction have been established by deuterium labelling. The findings on the fragmentation behaviour of the bifunctional methoxonium ions have been extended to the general behaviour of hydroxy and alkoxy substituted alkoxonium ions.