Gas phase ion/molecule reactions in phosphine/germane mixtures studied by ion trapping

Gaseous mixtures of phosphine and germane have been investigated by ion trap mass spectrometry. Reaction pathways together with rate constants of the main reactions are reported. The mechanisms of ion/molecule reactions have been elucidated by single and multiple isolation steps. The GeH_n⁺ (n = 1–3) ions react with phosphine to give GePH_n⁺ (n = 2–4) ions. The GePH₄⁺ ion further reacts with GeH₄ to yield Ge₂PH₆⁺. The GePH_n⁺ (n = 2–4) mixed ionic family also originates from the P⁺ phosphine primary ion, as well as from the P₂H_n⁺ (n = 0–3) secondary ions of phosphine reacting with neutral germane and from Ge₂H₂⁺ reacting with phosphine. The main reaction pathways of the PH_n⁺ (n = 0–2) ions with GeH₄ lead to the formation of the GeH₂⁺ and GeH₃⁺ ionic species. Protonation of phosphine from different ionic precursors is a very common process and yields the stable phosphonium ion, PH₄⁺. Trends in total abundances of secondary GePH_n⁺ (n = 2–4) ions as function of reaction time for different PH₃/GeH₄ pressure ratios show that excess of germane slightly affects the nucleation of mixed Ge-P ions.     

Ion—molecule reactions in GeH4/SiH4 systems studied by ion trap mass spectrometry

Gas phase ion—molecule reactions occurring in GeH₄/SiH₄ systems under different partial pressures and their mechanisms have been investigated by ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS). SiH⁺_n (n=0–3) and GeH⁺_n (n = 0–3) are the main ionic species at zero reaction time when the GeH₄: SiH₄ ratio is in the range 1:1 to 1:12. Self-condensation sequences are observed at increasing reaction times. Moreover, formation of ions containing GeSi bonds, such as GeSiH⁺_n (in = 2–5) and GeSi₂H⁺_n (n = 4, 5), occurs by reactions of Si₂H⁺_n (n = 2–5) and Si₃H⁺_n (n = 4, 5) with GeH₄. At longer reaction times, further substitution of silicon with germanium in GeSiH⁺_n (n = 2–5) ions has been observed, to give Ge₂H⁺_n (n = 2–5).     

Structures and mutual transformations of isomers of germylium ions (CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)H<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ge<Superscript>+</Superscript> and (CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>HGe<Superscript>+</Superscript> and their silicon analogs

The potential energy surfaces of the (CH₃)_nH_3?n M⁺ ions, where n = 1, 2; M = Si, Ge, were scanned using the B3LYP method with 6–31G* and aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets. The major attention was given to isomeric species having the form of complexes of the HM⁺ and CH₃M⁺ ions with hydrogen, methane, and ethane molecules. These species were characterized previously neither by experimental nor by theoretical methods. It was found that these species become more stable in going from Si to Ge; the complex [CH₃Ge⁺CH₄] is the second isomer in the energy after (CH₃)₂HGe⁺. However, the heights of the activation barriers to formation of these complexes from the most stable isomer, though decreasing in going from Si to Ge, remain relatively high and, what is particularly important, somewhat exceed the activation barrier to formation of the complex [H₃Ge⁺·C₂H₄].     

MNDO-UHF study of the molecular and electronic structures of cation radicals derived from tetramethylgermane,hexamethyldigermane, and other related organogermanes

Calculations have been made, using the MNDO-UHF SCF method, of molecular and electronic structures of a range of neutral organogermanes and of the corresponding cation radicals. The cation radical (GeMe₄)⁺ is calculated to have D_2d symmetry as an isolated ion, while (Ge₂Me₆)⁺ is a σ radical in which the SOMO is strongly localised in the GeGe bond. The cation radicals (Me₃Ge)₂O⁺ and (Me₃Ge)₂NH⁺ are n-π radicals, while (Me₃Ge)₂CH₂⁺ dissociates to Me₃Ge⁺ and Me₃GeCH₂^•, which is planar at the radical centre. Both (Me₃Ge)₂O₂ and (Me₃Ge)₂S₂⁺ have trans-planar skeletons.     

Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance study of the gas-phase acidities of germane and methylgermane; Bond dissociation energy of germane

An accurate gas-phase acidity for germane (enthalpy scale, equivalent to the proton affinity of GeH₃ ^?), ΔH _acid ^o(GeH₄) = 1502.0 ± 5.1 kJ mol^?1, is obtained by constructing a consistent acidity ladder between GeH₄, and H₂S by using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry, and 0 and 298.15 K values for the first bond dissociation energy of GeH₄ are proposed: D₀ ^o(H₃Ge-H) = 352 ± 9 kJ mol^?1; D ^o(H₃Ge-H) = 358 ± 9 kJ mol^?1, respectively. These results are compared with experimental and theoretical data reported in the literature. Methylgermane was found to be a weaker acid than germane by approximately 35 kJ mol^?1: ΔH _acid ^o = 1536.6 kJ mol^?1.     

(Trifluoromethyl)germanes. Preparation and properties of (CF3)2GeHX (X = H,D, F,Cl, Br,I, CH3) and CF3GeHnX3-n (X = H,D, CF2H,CH3)

The hydrogenation of (CF₃)_nGeX_4-n (X = halogen, n = 1–3) with NaBH₄ in an acidic medium has been investigated. Deuteration with NaBD₄ and D₃PO₄ gave the partially deuterated species CF₃GeH_nD_3-n and (CF₃)₂GeH_nD_2-n in reasonable isotopic purity. The (CF₃)₂GeHBr was isolated and converted into the halides (CF₃)₂GeHX (X = F, Cl, I) by treatment with AgX or HX. Insertion of CF₂ into a GeH bond has been observed, and (CF₃)(CF₂H)GeH₂ has been characterized. Direct alkylation of GeH bonds was brought about by reaction with a mixture of RI and R′₂Zn (R, R′= CH₃, C₂H₅), and the methyl(trif]uoromethyl)germanes CF₃GeH₂(CH₃), CF₃GeH(CH₃)₂ and (CF₃)₂GeH(CH₃) were isolated. For R = CD₃, R′ = CH₃ the product distribution can be accounted in terms of two competing mechanisms.     

Characterization of isomeric [CH5P]+˙ and [C2H7P]+˙ radical cations and some [C2H6P]+ phosphonium ions in the gas phase by their collisional activation spectra

Collisional activation spectra were used to characterize isomeric ion structures for [CH₅P]^+˙ and [C₂H₇P]^+˙ radical cations and [C₂H₆P]⁺ even-electron ions. Apart from ionized methylphosphane, [CH₃PH₂]^+˙, ions of structure [CH₂PH₃]^+˙ appear to be stable in the gas phase. Among the isomeric [C₂H₇P]^+˙ ions stable ion structures [CH₂PH₂CH₃]^+˙ and [CH₂CH₂PH₃]^+˙/[CH₃CHPH₃]^+˙ are proposed as being generated by appropriate dissociative ionization reactions of alkyl phosphanes. At least three isomeric [C₂H₆]⁺ ions appear to exist, of which \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_{\rm 3} - \mathop {\rm P}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H = CH}_{\rm 2} $\end{document} could be identified positively.     

Ion/Molecule reactions in SiH4/H2S and GeH4/H2S mixtures

The gas phase ion chemistry of silane/hydrogen sulfide and germane/hydrogen sulfide mixtures was studied by ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS), in both positive and negative ionization mode. In positive ionization, formation of X/S (X = Si, Ge) mixed ions mainly takes place via reactions of silane or germane ions with H₂S, through condensation followed by dehydrogenation. This is particularly evident in the system with silane. On the other side, reactions of H_nS₂⁺ ions with XH₄ (X = Si, Ge) invariably lead to formation of a single X? S bond. In negative ionization, a more limited number of mixed ion species is detected, but their overall abundance reaches appreciable values, especially in the SiH₄/H₂S system. Present results clearly indicate that ion processes play an important role in formation and growth of clusters eventually leading to deposition of amorphous solids in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New insights into the selective and systematic preparation of arylgermanium hydrides

A series of novel arylgermanium hydrides Ar_nGeH_4–n (n = 1–3) and diaryl(chloro)germanium hydrides Ar₂Ge(Cl)H were synthesized and characterized. Systematic preparation and purification were achieved via the lithium chloride–triflic acid and the optimized Grignard route. Arylgermanium hydrides ArnGeH_4–n (Ar = 2,5-Me₂C₆H₃, n = 1–3) were characterized by ¹H and ⁷³Ge NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffractometry.     

Germane decomposition: Kinetic and thermochemical data

Rate constants for the two stages of germane dissociation (GeH₄ → GeH₂ + H₂(I) and GeH₂ → Ge + H₂(II) have been derived from the studies of the chemiluminescence kinetics during germane dissociation in the presence of nitrous oxide behind shock waves at 1060–1300 K and the full density equal to ～10^?5 mol/cm³. Analysis in terms of the RRKM model gave the following expressions for the rate constants of these reactions in the high and low pressure limits: k _{1, ∞} = 2.0 × 10¹⁴exp(?208.0/RT) s^?1; k _{1, 0} = 1.7 × 10¹⁸(1000/T)^3.85exp(?208.0/RT) cm³/(mol s); and k _{2, 0} = 2.8 × 10¹⁵(1000/T)^1.32exp(?135.0/RT) cm³/(mol s). The results, in combination with the available enthalpies of formation of radical GeH₂, show that the back reaction for stage (I) has an energy barrier of about 66 kJ/mol.     

Elucidating the structures of isomeric silylenium ions (SiC3H 9 + , SiC4H 11 + , SiC5H 13 + ) by using specific ion/molecule reactions

Specific ion/molecule reactions are demonstrated that distinguish the structures of the following isomeric organosilylenium ions: Si(CH₃) ₃ ⁺ and SiH(CH₃)(C₂H₅)⁺; Si(CH₃)₂(C₂H₅)⁺ and SiH(C₂H₅) ₂ ⁺ ; and Si(CH₃)₂(i?C₃H₇)⁺, Si(CH₃)₂(n?C₃H₇)⁺, Si(CH₃)(C₂H₅) ₂ ⁺ , and Si(CH₃)₃(π?C₂H₄)⁺. Both methanol and isotopically labeled ethene yield structure-specific reactions with these ions. Methanol reacts with alkylsilylenium ions by competitive elimination of a corresponding alkane or dehydrogenation and yields a methoxysilylenium ion. Isotopically labeled ethene reacts specifically with alkylsilylenium ions containing a two-carbon or larger alkyl substituent by displacement of the corresponding olefin and yields an ethylsilylenium ion. Methanol reactions were found to be efficient for all systems, whereas isotopically labeled ethene reaction efficiencies were quite variable, with dialkylsilylenium ions reacting rapidly and trialkylsilylenium ions reacting much more slowly. Mechanisms for these reactions and differences in the kinetics are discussed.     

Observations of magic numbers in gas phase hydrates of alkylammonium ions

Hydration of alkylammonium ions under nonanalytical electrospray ionization conditions has been found to yield cluster ions with more than 20 water molecules associated with the central ion. These cluster ion species are taken to be an approximation of the conditions in liquid water. Many of the alkylammonium cation mass spectra exhibit water cluster numbers that appear to be particularly favorable, i.e., “magic number clusters” (MNC). We have found MNC in hydrates of mono- and tetra-alkyl ammonium ions, NH₃(C _m H_2m+1)⁺(H₂O) _n , m=1–8 and N(C _m H_2m+1) ₄ ⁺ (H₂O) _n , m=2–8. In contrast, NH₂(CH₃) ₂ ⁺ (H₂O) _n , NH(CH₃) ₃ ⁺ (H₂O) _n1 and N(CH₃) ₄ ⁺ (H₂O) _n do not exhibit any MNC. We conjecture that the structures of these magic number clusters correspond to exohedral structures in which the ion is situated on the surface of the water cage in contrast to the widely accepted caged ion structures of H₃O⁺(H₂O) _n and NH ₄ ⁺ (H₂O) _n .     

Synthetic, structural, and theoretical investigations of alkali metal germanium hydrides--contact molecules and separated ions

The preparation of a series of crown ether ligated alkali metal (M=K, Rb, Cs) germyl derivatives M(crown ether)_nGeH₃ through the hydrolysis of the respective tris(trimethylsilyl)germanides is reported. Depending on the alkali metal and the crown ether diameter, the hydrides display either contact molecules or separated ions in the solid state, providing a unique structural insight into the geometry of the obscure GeH₃^? ion. Germyl derivatives displaying M? Ge bonds in the solid state are of the general formula [M([18]crown‐6)(thf)GeH₃] with M=K ( 1 ) and M=Rb ( 4 ). The compounds display an unexpected geometry with two of the GeH₃ hydrogen atoms closely approaching the metal center, resulting in a partially inverted structure. Interestingly, the lone pair at germanium is not pointed towards the alkali metal, rather two of the three hydrides are approaching the alkali metal center to display M? H interactions. Separated ions display alkali metal cations bound to two crown ethers in a sandwich‐type arrangement and non‐coordinated GeH₃^? ions to afford complexes of the type [M(crown ether)₂][GeH₃] with M=K, crown ether=[15]crown‐5 ( 2 ); M=K, crown ether=[12]crown‐4 ( 3 ); and M=Cs, crown ether=[18]crown‐6 ( 5 ). The highly reactive germyl derivatives were characterized by using X‐ray crystallography, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Density functional theory (DFT) and second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) calculations were performed to analyze the geometry of the GeH₃^? ion in the contact molecules 1 and 4 .     

Microwave and vibrational spectra, ab initio calculations, conformational stabilities and assignments of the fundamentals of the Cs conformer of n-butylgermane

The FT-microwave spectrum of n-butylgermane, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂GeH₃ has been investigated from 4000 to 18,000 MHz and the microwave spectra have been observed for all of the five naturally occurring germanium isotopologues for the anti-anti (aa) conformer. The dipole moment for the ⁷⁴Ge containing species has been measured, giving a total dipole moment of 0.881 (26) D. In addition, the vibrational spectrum of n-butylgermane is described. Modestly complete assignments are made for the aa conformer. The relative stabilities of the five conformers are calculated, and the anti-anti (aa) conformer is found to be the most stable in all calculations done. This conclusion is confirmed by the infrared and Raman spectrum of the annealed crystal. The dipole moments of all conformers are calculated to be approximately equal and less than 1 D, ranging from approximately 0.8 to 0.9 D.     

Theoretical Study of the Reactions M++CH3F (M=Ge,As, Se,Sb)

CASSCF–MRMP2 calculations have been carried out to analyze the reactions of the methyl fluoride molecule with the atomic ions Ge⁺, As⁺, Se⁺ and Sb⁺. For these interactions, potential energy curves for the low‐lying electronic states were calculated for different approaching modes of the fragments. Particularly, those channels leading to C? H and C? F oxidative addition products, H₂FC? M? H⁺ and H₃C? M? F⁺, respectively were explored, as well as the paths which evolve to the abstraction (M? F⁺+CH₃) and the elimination (CH₂M⁺+HF) asymptotes. For the reaction Ge⁺+CH₃F the only favorable channel leads to fluorine abstraction by the ion. As⁺ and Sb⁺ can react with CH₃F along pathways yielding stable addition products. However, a viable path joining the oxidative addition product H₃C? M? F⁺ with the elimination asymptote CH₂M⁺+HF was found for the reaction of the fluorocarbon compound with As⁺. No favorable channels were detected for the interaction of fluoromethane with Se⁺. The results discussed herein allow rationalizing some of the experimental data found for these interactions through gas‐phase mass spectrometry.     

An ICR study of ion—molecule reactions of PHn+ ions

The reaction of PH_n⁺ ions (n = 0–3) were examined with a number of neutrals using ion cyclotron resonance techniques. The reactions examined have significance for the distribution of phosphorus in interstellar molecules. The results indicate that interstellar molecules containing the PO bond are likely to be more abundant than those containing the PH bond.     

A kinetic study of proton transfer reactions of NH+4, CH3NH+3, and PH+4 with calcium atoms

Cross section measurements for the proton transfer reactions of NH⁺₄, CH₃NH⁺₃, and PH⁺₄ with Ca(g) have been obtained over a range of low ion kinetic energies. For all reactions studied the cross sections drop sharply with increase in ion kinetic energy, indicating exothermic behavior. The results show that Ca(g) is an unusually strong base with a proton affinity in excess of 9.2 eV. Cross sections for the PH⁺₄Ca reaction are an order to magnitude higher than those for the NH⁺₄Ca reaction for ion energies between one and three eV. This effect is not explained by simple theories of ion-induced dipole interactions. It is suggested that the enhanced rate of the PH⁺₄Ca reaction may be due to d-orbital participation.     

Gas‐phase reactions of XH3+ (X = C,Si, Ge) with NF3: a comparative investigation on the detailed mechanistic aspects

The gas‐phase reaction of CH₃⁺ with NF₃ was investigated by ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS). The observed products include NF₂⁺ and CH₂F⁺. Under the same experimental conditions, SiH₃⁺ reacts with NF₃ and forms up to six ionic products, namely (in order of decreasing efficiency) NF₂⁺, SiH₂F⁺, SiHF₂⁺, SiF⁺, SiHF⁺, and NHF⁺. The GeH₃⁺ cation is instead totally unreactive toward NF₃. The different reactivity of XH₃⁺ (X = C, Si, Ge) toward NF₃ has been rationalized by ab initio calculations performed at the MP2 and coupled cluster level of theory. In the reaction of both CH₃⁺ and SiH₃⁺, the kinetically relevant intermediate is the fluorine‐coordinated isomer H₃X‐F‐NF₂⁺ (X = C, Si). This species forms from the exoergic attack of XH₃⁺ to one of the F atoms of NF₃ and undergoes dissociation and isomerization processes which eventually result in the experimentally observed products. The nitrogen‐coordinated isomers H₃X‐NF₃⁺ (X = C, Si) were located as minimum‐energy structures but do not play an active role in the reaction mechanism. The inertness of GeH₃⁺ toward NF₃ is also explained by the endoergic character of the dissociation processes involving the H₃Ge‐F‐NF₂⁺ isomer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A potentiometric and calorimetric study of the protonation and complexation with Cu2+ and Ni2+ of some sulphur-containing α,ω-amino acids

The behaviour in aqueous solution of some aminocarboxylates of the type NH₂(CH₂)_nS(CH₂)_m-1COO^? (abbreviated as n,m-NSO; n and m = 2 or 3) in equilibria with H⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions has been investigated potentiometrically and calorimetrically at 25° C in a 0.5 M KNO₃ medium.The protonation of the amino function and especially the carboxylate function is attended by strong desolvation effects, which are characterized by low exothermic enthalpies and strongly positive entropies of protonation.In [Cu(n,m-NSO)]⁺ and [Ni(n,m-NSO)]⁺ the aminocarboxylates act as tridentate ligands, forming complexes with a strong hard—hard character. The biligand species [Ni(n,m-NSO)₂] behave as six-coordinated complexes whereas in [Cu(n,m-NSO)₂] the second ligand is bound only through the N and S donor, forming a five-coordinated species.Finally, the n,m-NSO ligands also form protonated species with the Cu²⁺ ion.     

Distonic radical cations : Guidelines for the assessment of their stability

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations on the distonic radical cations CH₂(CH₂)_nN⁺H₃ and their conventional isomers CH₃(CH₂)_nNH₂+ (n = 0,1, 2 and 3) indicate a preference in each case for the distonic isomer. The energy difference appears to converge with increasing n towards a limit which is close to the energy difference between the component systems CH₃·H₂+CH₃^+NH₃ (representing the distonic isomer) and CH₃CH₃+CH₃NH₂+ (representing the conventional isomer). The generality of this result is assessed by using results for the component systems CH₃·Y+CH₃X⁺H and CH₃YH+CH₃X^+. (or CH₃YH^+. + CH₃X) to predict the relative energies of the distonic ions ·Y(CH₂)_nX⁺H and their conventional isomers HY(CH₂)nX^+. (X = NH₂, OH, F, PH₂, SH, Cl; Y = CH₂, NH, O) and testing the predictions through explicit calculations for systems with n = 0,1 and 2. Although the predictions based on component systems are often close to the results of direct calculations, there are substantial discrepancies in a number of cases; the reasons for such discrepancies are discussed. Caution must be exercised in applying this and related predictive schemes. For the systems examined in the present study, the conventional radical cation is predicted in most cases to lie lower in energy than its distonic isomer. It is found that the more important factors contributing to a preference for distonic over conventional radical cations are the presence in the system of a group(X) with high proton affinity and the absence of a group (X, Y or perturbed (C—C) with low ionization energy.