Gas-phase C-F bond cleavage in perfluorohexane using W-, Si-, P-, Br-, and I-containing ions: Comparisons with reactions at fluorocarbon surfaces

Gas-phase reactions of W-, Si-, P-, Br-, and I-containing ions with the target molecule perfluorohexane at low collision energies (<15 eV) parallel known ion/surface reactions of the same projectile ions at fluorinated self-assembled monolayer surfaces. Charge exchange, dissociative charge exchange, and fluorine atom abstraction are observed and the majority of the projectile ions also undergo reactive charge exchange to produce specific fluorocarbon fragment ions of the target molecule in distinctive relative abundances. Abstraction of up to five fluorine atoms is observed upon collision of W⁺ with gaseous perfluorohexane, while similar experiments with CI⁺, SiCl⁺, and PCl^+· show abstraction of one or two fluorine atoms. Other projectiles, including Si^+·, PCl ₂ ⁺ , Br⁺, CBr⁺, and I⁺, abstract only a single fluorine atom. These patterns of fluorine atom abstraction are similar to those observed in ion/surface collisions. Also paralleling the ion/surface reactions, halogen exchange (Cl-for-F) reactions occur between the Cl-containing projectile ions and perfluorohexane to produce C₆F₁₂Cl⁺, a product of chemical modification of the target. Collisions of PCl^+· and PCl ₂ ⁺ also result in production of C₆F ₁₂ ^+· , indicating that the corresponding surface modification reaction involving molecular defluorination should be sought. Implications for previously proposed mechanisms, new ion/surface reactions, and for the use of gas-phase studies to guide investigations of the ion/surface reactions are discussed.     

Surface-Induced dissociation from a liquid surface

Mass-selected projectile ions in the tens of electronvolt energy range undergo surface-induced dissociation upon collision with a liquid perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) surface. The efficiency of translational-to-vibrational (T-V) energy transfer is similar to that observed for a fluorinated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surface. The thermometer ion W(CO)^’ was used to detenrrine an average T-V conversion efficiency of 18% in the collision energy range of 30–50 eV. The surface can be bombarded for several hours without displaying any change in the scattered ion products. Ion-surface reactions occur with some projectiles and are analogous to those seen with the fluorinated SAM surface. For example, WF _? ⁺ (m=1–5) and W(CO)_nF _? ⁺ (n=1–2, m=1–2) are generated upon collisions of W(CO) ₆ ⁺ with the PFPE liquid surface. The ion-surface reactions observed suggest that F atoms and/or CF₃ groups are accessible for reaction while the oxygen atoms lie below the outermost surface layer. Chemical sputtering of the liquid surface also occurs and yields common fluorocarbon fragment ions, including CF ₃ ⁺ , C₂F ₅ ⁺ , and C₃F ₇ ⁺ and the oxygenated product CFO⁺. The liquid surface is remarkably free of hydrocarbon impurities. Collisions of the pyrazine and benzene molecular ions, both probes for hydrocarbon impurities, resulted in very little protonated pyrazine or protonated benzene.     

A study of theoretical depth resolution of GaAs/AlAs reference material with low energy inert‐gas ions by Monte Carlo simulation

A Monte Carlo (MC) simulation program written in C++ has been newly developed to describe the dynamic processes of depth profiling with low energy ions. This MC simulation was applied to the depth profiling of GaAs/AlAs reference material for Ne⁺, Ar⁺, and Xe⁺ ions to elucidate the depth resolution attained by surface analytical techniques. The result clearly predicts that there is a considerable difference between the depth resolutions estimated from the leading and trailing edges of Ne⁺ and Xe⁺ ions, whereas the difference is quite small for Ar⁺ ions. Systematic investigation of the dependence of theoretical depth resolution on primary ion energy has revealed that the preferential sputtering primarily caused by the difference in energy transfer to target atoms through elastic collisions between incident ions and target atoms results in the difference between the leading and trailing edges. The inclusion of other factors, e.g. preferential sputtering effect caused by the metallization of Al atoms on the topmost surface, etc. for further improvement of the MC simulation modeling before accommodating quantitative arguments on the depth resolution is strongly recommended. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A structural study of Si6‐ring‐containing [Si6Cl14]2− chlorosilicates

The crystal structures of four substituted‐ammonium dichloride dodecachlorohexasilanes are presented. Each is crystallized with a different cation and one of the structures contains a benzene solvent molecule: bis(tetraethylammonium) dichloride dodecachlorohexasilane, 2C₈H₂₀N⁺·2Cl⁻·Cl₁₂Si₆, (I), tetrabutylammonium tributylmethylammonium dichloride dodecachlorohexasilane, C₁₆H₃₆N⁺·C₁₃H₃₀N⁺·2Cl⁻·Cl₁₂Si₆, (II), bis(tetrabutylammonium) dichloride dodecachlorohexasilane benzene disolvate, 2C₁₆H₃₆N⁺·2Cl⁻·Cl₁₂Si₆·2C₆H₆, (III), and bis(benzyltriphenylphosphonium) dichloride dodecachlorohexasilane, 2C₂₅H₂₂P⁺·2Cl⁻·Cl₁₂Si₆, (IV). In all four structures, the dodecachlorohexasilane ring is located on a crystallographic centre of inversion. The geometry of the dichloride dodecachlorohexasilanes in the different structures is almost the same, irrespective of the cocrystallized cation and solvent. However, the crystal structure of the parent dodecachlorohexasilane molecule shows that this molecule adopts a chair conformation. In (IV), the P atom and the benzyl group of the cation are disordered over two sites, with a site‐occupation factor of 0.560 (5) for the major‐occupied site.     

Basicity of bisperhalophenyl aurates toward closed-shell metal ions: metallophilicity and additional interactions

The interaction of bisperhalophenyl aurates [AuR₂]^? (R?=?C₆F₅, C₆F₃Cl₂, and C₆Cl₅) with the closed-shell Ag⁺, Cu⁺, and Tl⁺ ions has been studied theoretically and compared with the experimentally known X-ray diffraction crystal structures. Initially, the aurates have been fully optimized at MP2 level of theory in a D _2h symmetry. The analysis of the basicity of the three aurates [AuR₂]^? (R?=?C₆F₅, C₆F₃Cl₂ and C₆Cl₅) against Ag⁺ ions in a C _2v symmetry has been calculated in point-by-point bsse-corrected interaction energy analysis at HF and MP2 levels of theory. Taking into account the experimental observation of additional interactions between the heterometals and C _ipso atoms at the perhalophenyl rings or halogen atoms at the ortho position of the perhalophenyl rings, dinuclear models of the type [AuR₂]^?···Ag⁺ (R?=?C₆Cl₅, and C₆F₅); [AuR₂]^?···Cu⁺ (R?=?C₆F₅, and C₆Cl₅) and [AuR₂]^?···Tl⁺ (R?=?C₆F₅, and C₆Cl₅) with a C _2v , C ₂ , and C _s symmetries have been optimized at DFT-B3LYP level. The interaction energies have been computed through bsse-corrected single point HF and MP2 calculations. The energy stabilization provided and the heterometal preference have been analyzed and compared with the experimental results.     

A photoionization study of the charge transfer reactions: Xe+ + O2 → O+2 + Xe and O+2 + Xe → Xe+ + O2

Photoionization mass spectrometer techniques have been employed to study the charge transfer reactions: Xe⁺ + O₂ → O⁺₂ + Xe and O⁺₂ + Xe → Xe⁺ + O₂. The results show the reaction of Xe⁺(²P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}) ions with O₂ molecules is much more efficient than the reaction of Xe⁺(²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}) ions with O₂ molecules. The charge transfer reaction of O⁺₂ ions with Xe atoms was detected for O⁺₂ ions in the a ⁴Π_u state.     

FTMS studies of sputtered metal cluster ions (IV): size-selective effects in the chemistry of Fe n + with NH3 and Pd n + with D2 or C2H4

Fe _n ⁺ and Pd _n ⁺ clusters up ton=19 andn=25, respectively, are produced in an external ion source by sputtering of the respective metal foils with Xe⁺ primary ions at 20 keV. They are transferred to the ICR cell of a home-built Fourier transform mass spectrometer, where they are thermalized to nearly room temperature and stored for several tens of seconds. During this time, their reactions with a gas leaked in at low level are studied. Thus in the presence of ammonia, most Fe _n ⁺ clusters react by simply adsorbing intact NH₃ molecules. Only Fe ₄ ⁺ ions show dehydrogenation/adsorption to Fe₄(NH) _m ⁺ intermediates (m=1, 2) that in a complex scheme go on adsorbing complete NH₃ units. To clarify the reaction scheme, one has to isolate each species in the ion cell, which often requires the ejection of ions very close in mass. This led to the development of a special isolation technique that avoids the use of isotopically pure metal samples. Pd _n ⁺ cluster ions (n=2...9) dehydrogenate C₂H₄ in general to yield Pd _n (C₂H₂)⁺, yet Pd ₆ ⁺ appear totally unreactive. Towards D₂, Pd ₇ ⁺ ions seem inert, whereas Pd ₈ ⁺ adsorb up to two molecules.     

Multi-reference configuration interaction calculations on the systems Xe 2 + and Xe 3 +

Potential curves for the ground (²Σ _u ⁺ ) and the three lowest excited states of the Xe ₂ ⁺ dimer ion (²Π _g ,²Π _u ,²Σ _g ⁺ ) have been calculated using pseudopotentials in MRD-CI (multi-reference single anddouble excitationconfigurationinteraction) calculations. Spin-orbit interaction — leading to the six states 1.(1/2) _u , 1.(3/2) _g , 1.(3/2) _u , 1.(1/2) _g , 2.(1/2) _u , 2.(1/2) _g — has been taken into account using a semiempirical technique [1]. Subsequently, starting with a relaxed Xe ₂ ⁺ ion in its ground state, the potential energy surface for the system Xe-Xe ₂ ⁺ was studied. We found that the collinear approach of the Xe atom leads to the most stable geometry. This is a linear symmetric molecule with bond lengths of 6.38 bohr. In the bestT-shaped structure, the Xe atom is 7.83 bohr away from the midpoint of the Xe ₂ ⁺ (r=6.1 bohr) dimer. The calculated binding energy of 0.25 eV for the equilibrium structure of the Xe ₃ ⁺ molecule (i.e. the linear symmetric geometry), is in very good agreement with experimental results of 0.27 ± 0.02 eV [2].     

Fragmentation behavior of Si2Cln+ cations (n = 1—6)

Sector-field mass spectrometry was used to probe the fragmentation patterns of the cationic silicon chlorides Si₂Cl_n ⁺ (n = 1—6). For almost all Si₂Cl_n ⁺ ions, Si—Si fragmentation predominates the Si—Cl bond cleavage both in the metastable ion and collisional activation mass spectra. Analysis of the fragmentation patterns indicates that the long-lived radical cation Si₂Cl₆ ^·+ corresponds to a complex [SiCl₂·SiCl₄]^·+ rather than the intact molecular ion of hexachlorodisilane. The behavior of Si₂Cl₅ ⁺ is consistent with the formation of the (trichlorosilyl)dichlorosilyl cation Cl₃SiSICl₂ ⁺. Structural aspects are also discussed for the other Si₂Cl_n ⁺ species. A semi-quantitative analysis of the fragmentation patterns in conjunction with the literature thermochemistry data was used to estimate some thermochemical properties of the Si₂Cl_n ⁺ cations.     

Cooperative photoproduction of Xe2+Cl− in liquid Cl2/Xe solutions: Stimulated emission and gain measurements

Cooperative photogeneration of Xe₂⁺Cl⁻ can be accomplished by near UV laser excitation of Cl₂/Xe solutions with a high quantum efficiency. Gain measurements on the Xe₂⁺Cl⁻ (4²Γ) transition are reported. The liquid phase rare gas halides should be regarded as a family of ideal “dye” lasers.     

Untersuchungen zur Lewis-Acidität fluorierter Sulfonium-Ionen

On the Lewis Acidity of Fluorinated Sulfonium Ions NMR investigations show, that sulfonium salts [(CF₃)_nSF_3?n]⁺ AsF₆^? ( 1–3 , n = 0–2) add CH₃CN under formation of ψ-pentacoordinated sulfuranonium ions [(CF₃)_nSF_3?n · NCCH₃]⁺ ( 1a – 3a ,) with the donor in an axial position. In solution NSF₃ ( 4 ,) forms similar salts [(CF₃)_nSF_3?n · NSF₃]⁺ AsF₆^? ( 1b-3b ,) with weaker donor-acceptor interactions. With NSF₂NMe₂ ( 5 ,) the step of the primary addition products is passed very quickly, by fluoride-migration from 1 , and 2 , persulfuranonium ions [(CH₃)₂NSF₃NSF₂]⁺ ( 6 ,) and [(CH₃)₂NSF₃NSFCF₃]⁺ ( 7 ,), respectively, are formed, while from 3 , only decomposition products (Me₂NSF₂⁺, CF₃SSCF₃, CF₄) were obtained.     

A theoretical study of internal rearrangements and open channels for fission and mass exchanges in Xe n + clusters

In a previous work the equilibrium geometrical and electronic structures of Xe _n ⁺ clusters had been established using a non-empirical model hamiltonian. The same model is used to determine the energetic barriers between the nearly degenerate isomers; the movement of the neutral atoms around the Xe ₃ ⁺ or Xe ₄ ⁺ ionized linear cores are quite easy (ΔE?0.9 kcal/mole), the changes from a Xe ₃ ⁺ to a Xe ₄ ⁺ core are more difficult (ΔE?2.0 kcal/mole). The energetically possible fissions from a vertical photoionization \(Xe_n \xrightarrow{{h v}}Xe_n^{v + } \to Xe_p^ + + Xe_{n - p} \) forn≦19,p=1–9 and 12–14 and mass exchanges Xe _p ⁺ +Xe _q →Xe _p+m ⁺ +Xe _q?m (m=1,2,3) from relaxed Xe _p ⁺ clusters are given forp+m≦9 and 12–14 andq≦19. Surprisingly the reverse reactions are shown to occur for some values ofp andq. Numerous processes lead to Xe ₁₃ ⁺ , which is especially stable.     

Nucleophilic assistance in methane activation by superelectrophiles with halogen-centered cationic sites

Simulation of fragments of potential energy surface for systems CH₄ + CBr ₃ ⁺ , CH₄ + CBr ₃ ⁺ AlBr ₄ ^? , CH₄ + CCl ₃ ⁺ AlCl ₄ ^? , and CH₄ + CCl ₃ ⁺ Al₂Cl ₇ ^? was performed by DFT-B3LYP and DFT-PBE methods. The important role of nucleophilic assistance in methane halogenation by these superelectrophiles was confirmed. These reactions occur with a synchronous hydride transfer from methane to the electrophile within the cyclic transition states in linear C-H-C fragment of the rings and a generation of a C-Hlg bond between the carbon atom of the arising methyl group and the halogen atom of the electrophile. The nucleophilic assistance from the unshared electron pair of this halogen atom provides the lowering of the potential barriers to methane halogenation by complexes CBr ₃ ⁺ AlBr ₄ ^? , CCl ₃ ⁺ AlCl ₄ ^? , and CCl ₃ ⁺ Al₂Cl ₇ ^? to the values of the order of 20 kcal mol^?1. These essential features of the mechanism of methane halogenation are independent of the halogen nature and are retained on going from the model electrophiles to the real ones.     

Tailoring and investigation of surface chemical nature of virgin and ion beam modified muscovite mica

We report that the surface chemical properties of muscovite mica [KAl₂(Si₃Al)O₁₀(OH)₂] like important multi-elemental layered substrate can be precisely tailored by ion bombardment. The detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of a freshly cleaved as well as 12-keV Ar⁺ and N⁺ ion bombarded muscovite mica surfaces show immense changes of the surface composition due to preferential sputtering of different elements and the chemical reaction of implanted ions with the surface. We observe that the K atoms on the upper layer of mica surface are sputtered most during the N⁺ or Ar⁺ ions sputtering, and the negative aluminosilicate layer is exposed. Inactive Ar atoms are trapped, whereas chemically reactive N atoms form silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) and aluminum nitride (AlN) during implantation. On exposure to air after ion bombardment, the mica surface becomes more active to adsorb C than the virgin surface. The adsorbed C reacts with Si in the aluminosilicate layer and forms silicon carbide (SiC) for both Ar and N bombarded mica surfaces. Besides the surface chemical change, prolonged ion bombardment develops a periodic ripple like regular pattern on the surface.     

Molecular fragmentation on collision with protons for freon and propane molecules

In ab initio calculations, we determined the most probable routes of decomposition of the [CF₃Cl]⁺, [CF₂Cl₂]⁺, [CFCl₃]⁺, [CCl₄]⁺ molecular ions of freons and [C₃H₈]⁺ ions of hydrocarbons formed by collision of neutral molecules with protons with energies of the order of 10 keV. The calculated potential surface sections are compared on a qualitative level with the probability of various ion fragments in experiments on fragmentation. The role of the charge transfer dynamics between the proton and the molecule is discussed.     

VAMAS interlaboratory study on organic depth profiling

We present the results of a VAMAS (Versailles project on Advanced Materials and Standards) interlaboratory study on organic depth profiling, in which twenty laboratories submitted data from a multilayer organic reference material. Individual layers were identified using a range of different sputtering species (C₆₀ⁿ⁺, Cs⁺, SF₅⁺ and Xe⁺), but in this study only the C₆₀ⁿ⁺ ions were able to provide truly ‘molecular’ depth profiles from the reference samples. The repeatability of profiles carried out on three separate days by participants was shown to be excellent, with a number of laboratories obtaining better than 5% RSD (relative standard deviation) in depth resolution and sputtering yield, and better than 10% RSD in relative secondary ion intensities. Comparability between laboratories was also good in terms of depth resolution and sputtering yield, allowing useful relationships to be found between ion energy, sputtering yield and depth resolution. The study has shown that organic depth profiling results can, with care, be compared on a day‐to‐day basis and between laboratories. The study has also validated three approaches that significantly improve the quality of organic depth profiling: sample cooling, sample rotation and grazing angles of ion incidence. © Crown copyright 2010.     

(Z)‐2‐Methylbuten‐1‐yl(aryl)iodonium trifluoromethanesulfonates containing electron‐withdrawing groups on the aryl moiety

The crystal structures of [(Z)‐2‐methyl­but‐1‐en‐1‐yl]­[4‐(tri­fluoro­methyl)­phenyl]­iodo­nium tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate, C₁₂H₁₃F₃I⁺·CF₃O₃S^?, (I), (3,5‐di­chloro­phenyl)­[(Z)‐2‐methyl­but‐1‐en‐1‐yl]­iodo­nium tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate, C₁₁H₁₂­Cl₂I⁺·CF₃O₃S^?, (II), and bis{[3,5‐bis­(tri­fluoro­methyl)­phenyl][(Z)‐2‐methyl­but‐1‐en‐1‐yl]­iodo­nium} bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate) di­chloro­methane solvate, 2C₁₃H₁₂F₆I⁺·­2CF₃­O₃S^?·CH₂Cl₂, (III), are described. Neither simple acyclic β,β‐di­alkyl‐substituted alkenyl­(aryl)­idonium salts nor a series containing electron‐deficient aryl rings have been described prior to this work. Compounds (I)–(III) were found to have distorted square‐planar geometries, with each I atom interacting with two tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate counter‐ions.     

Conceptual problems in noble gas and fluorine chemistry,VI:1 Anomalous reactions of the isoelectronic F2O and Cl2O with lewis acids

The isoelectronic F₂O and Cl₂O are known to react with Lewis acids to produce salts of the unrelated O₂⁺ and ClO₂⁺ ions. We propose a unifying mechanism entailing formation of F₃O₂⁺ and Cl₃O₂⁺ by the simultaneous abstraction of halide ions and attack of a second molecule of the halogen oxide. Logic is presented for nonisostructural arrangements of these ions, F₂O⁺-OF and (ClOClOCl)⁺. Subsequent dehalogenation reactions then produce the observed ions.     

Die Orientierung der Re2Cl82–‐Ionen in (PPh4)2[Re2Cl8] · 2 L (L = Acetonitril,Dichlormethan)

The Orientation of the Re₂Cl₈^2– Ions in (PPh₄)₂[Re₂Cl₈] · 2 L (L = Acetonitrile, Dichloromethane) (PPh₄)₂[Re₂Cl₈] · 2 MeCN was obtained in small yields from PPh₄Cl and ReCl₅ in the presence of Na₂S₄ or K₂S₅ in acetontrile. Its crystal structure was determined by X‐ray diffraction. The crystals are nearly isotypic with those of (PPh₄)₂[Re₂Cl₈] · 2 CH₂Cl₂. The PPh₄⁺ ions, the solvent molecules, and the chlorine atoms occupy nearly identical positions in both triclinic structures. Nevertheless, 98% of the Re≡Re groups are differently oriented within the slightly elongated Cl₈ cubes surrounding them. The space requirement of the elongated cubes seems to be more important for the orientation than electrostatic forces. The PPh₄⁺ ions form (PPh₄⁺)₂ pairs around inversion centers.     

Multiple stage pentaquadrupole mass spectrometry for generation and characterization of gas-phase ionic species. The case of the PyC2H 5 +· isomers

Eleven isomers with the PyC₂H ₅ ^+· composition, which include three conventional (1–3) and eight distonic radical cations (4–11), have been generated and in most cases successfully characterized in the gas phase via tandem-in-space multiple-stage pentaquadrupole MS² and MS³ experiments. The three conventional radical cations, that is, the ionized ethylpyridines C₂H₅-C₅H₄N^+· (1–3), were generated via direct 70-eV electron ionization of the neutrals, whereas sequences of chemical ionization and collision-induced dissociation (CID) or mass-selected ion-molecule reactions were used to generate the distonic ions H₂C^·?C₅H₄N⁺?CH₃ (4–6), CH₃?C₅H₄N⁺?CH ₂ ^· (7–9), C₅H₅N⁺?CH₂CH ₂ ^· (10), and C₅H₅N⁺?CH^·?CH₃ (11). Unique features of the low-energy (15-eV) CID and ion-molecule reaction chemistry with the diradical oxygen molecule of the isomers were used for their structural characterization. All the ion-molecule reaction products of a mass-selected ion, each associated with its corresponding CID fragments, were collected in a single three-dimensional mass spectrum. Ab initio calculations at the ROMP2/6–31G(d, p)//6–31G(d, p)+ZPE level of theory were performed to estimate the energetics involved in interconversions within the PyC₂H₅ ^+· system, which provided theoretical support for facile 4?7 interconversion evidenced in both CID and ion-molecule reaction experiments. The ab initio spin densities for the a-distonic ions 4–9 and 11 were found to be largely on the methylene or methyne formal radical sites, which thus ruled out substantial odd-spin derealization throughout the neighboring pyridine ring. However, only 8 and 9 (and 10) react extensively with oxygen by radical coupling, hence high spin densities on the radical site of the distonic ions do not necessarily lead to radical coupling reaction with oxygen. The very typical “spatially separated” ab initio charge and spin densities of 4–11 were used to classify them as distonic ions, whereas 1–3 show, as expected, “localized” electronic structures characteristic of conventional radical ions.