Exploring and elaborating the excited state mechanism of a novel AIE material 2-(5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole

A novel aggregation-induced emission material 2-(5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (2-CHBT) has been investigated based on density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods. Via reduced density gradient (RDG) versus sign(λ₂)ρ analyses, we firstly verify the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bond in 2-CHBT system. Analyzing the primary geometrical parameters in 2-CHBT and comparing the changes about infrared (IR) vibrational spectra, we confirm that the hydrogen bond O-H···N is strengthened in the S₁ state upon excitation. Exploring photo-excitation process, the frontier molecular orbitals (MOs) and charge density difference (CDD) analyses have been performed using TDDFT/B3LYP/TZVP theoretical level, based on which we verify the charge transfer phenomenon referring to the S₀?→?S₁ transition. And the CDD around the hydrogen bond moiety provides the tendency of ESIPT for 2-CHBT molecule. Comparing the energy gap between HOMO and LUMO orbitals in cyclohexane, toluene, chloroform, and DMSO solvents, we predict the ESIPT reaction might be more active in non-polar solvents. In addition, constructing potential energy curves and searching transition state (TS) structures, we further clarify the ESIPT mechanism and verify that non-polar solvents might facilitate the ESIPT process. Our simulated results reappear experimental spectral results and successfully explain experimental phenomenon.     

(4-溴甲基双环[4.4.1]-1,3,5,7,9-十一碳五烯基-3-)甲醇环氧化反应机理的理论研究

A reaction mechanism of epoxidation reaction of the 4-(bromomethyl)bicyclo4.4.1undeca-1,3,5,7,9-pentaen-3-ylmethanol has been studied by using the density functional theory(DFT) method at B3LYP level with 6 31G* basis set. The geometric structures of reactant, product and transition state have been optimized. The transition state is found by the QST2 method and characterized by the vibration frequency analysis. The intrinsic reaction coordinate(IRC) for this reaction is traced and confirms the reaction mechanism. The changes and the nature of related chemical bonds along the IRC path have been analyzed by the theory of electronic charge density. The result shows that the elimination reaction and ring closing reaction are synergistic, and the hydrogen in the elimination reaction derives from hydroxyl. In addition, the activation energy of the reaction is 139.2 kJ/mol.     

Rate-equilibrium relationships in hydride transfer reactions: the role of intrinsic barriers

A literature survey on the kinetics of hydride abstractions from CH-groups by carbocations reveals a general phenomenon: Variation of the hydride acceptor affects the rates of hydride transfer to a considerably greater extent than an equal change of the thermodynamic driving force caused by variation of the hydride donor. The origin of this relationship was investigated by quantum chemical calculations on various levels of ab initio and DFT theory for the transfer of an allylic hydrogen from 1-mono- and 1,1-disubstituted propenes (XYC=CH-CH(3)) to the 3-position of 1-mono- and 1,1-disubstituted allyl cations (XYC=CH-CH(2)(+)). The discussion is based on the results of the MP2/6-31+G(d,p)//RHF/6-31+G(d,p) calculations. Electron-releasing substituents X and Y in the hydride donors increase the exothermicity of the reaction, while electron-releasing substituents in the hydride acceptors decrease exothermicity. In line with Hammond's postulate, increasing exothermicity shifts the transition states on the reaction coordinate toward reactants, as revealed by the geometry parameters and the charge distribution in the activated complexes. Independent of the location of the transition state on the reaction coordinate, a value of 0.72 is found for Hammond-Leffler's alpha = deltaDeltaG/deltaDelta(r)G degrees when the hydride acceptor is varied, while alpha = 0.28 when the hydride donor is varied. The value of alpha thus cannot be related with the position of the transition state. Investigation of the degenerate reactions XYC=CH-CH(3) + XYC=CH-CH(2)(+) indicates that the migrating hydrogen carries a partial positive charge in the transition state and that the intrinsic barriers increase with increasing electron-releasing abilities of X and Y. Substituent variation in the donor thus influences reaction enthalpy and intrinsic barriers in the opposite sense, while substituent variation in the acceptor affects both terms in the same sense, in accord with the experimental findings. Marcus theory is employed to treat these effects quantitatively.     

Charge density analysis of a pentaborate ion in an ammonium borate: toward the understanding of topological features in borate minerals

Structural and charge density distribution studies have been carried out on a single crystal data of an ammonium borate, [C(10)H(26)N(4)][B(5)O(6)(OH)(4)](2), synthesized by solvothermal method. Further, the experimentally observed geometry is used for the theoretical charge density calculations using the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory, and the results are compared with the experimental values. Topological analysis of charge density based on the Atoms in Molecules approach for B-O bonds exhibit mixed covalent/ionic character. Detailed analysis of the hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure in the ammonium borate provides insights into the understanding of the reaction pathways that could result in the formation of borate minerals. The net atomic charges and electrostatic potential isosurfaces also give additional input to evaluate chemical and physical properties in such systems.     

Interaction of vanadium oxide cluster anions with water: an experimental and theoretical study on reactivity and mechanism

Vanadium oxide cluster anions (V(x)O(y)(-), x = 2-3; y = 3-7) are produced by laser ablation and reacted with water in a fast flow reactor. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used to detect the cluster distribution before and after the reactions. Reaction channels of molecular hydrogen elimination (for V(2,3)O(3)(-)), water association (for V(2)O(5)(-) and V(3)O(6,7)(-)) and the coexistence of both channels (for V(2)O(4)(-) and V(3)O(4,5)(-)) are observed. V(2)O(6)(-) and V(3)O(8)(-) are nearly inert toward water. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to study the reaction mechanism of V(2)O(3)(-) in different spin states with water and the results support the experimental observation. The reaction mechanism of V(2)O(3)(+) with water is also studied, which is in agreement with the experimental report in previous literature [Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2008, 4961] that molecular hydrogen elimination is a minor reaction channel for V(2)O(3)(+) + H(2)O. The influence of cluster charge states and oxidation states of vanadium atoms on the cluster reactivity are presented based on the experimental and theoretical studies.     

Theoretical study of cytosine-Al, cytosine-Cu and cytosine-Ag (neutral, anionic and cationic)

The binding of cytosine to Al, Cu and Ag has been analyzed using the hybrid B3LYP density functional theory method. The three metals all have open shell electronic configuration, with only one unpaired valence electron. Thus it is possible to study the influence of electronic configuration on the stability of these systems. Neutral, cationic and anionic systems were analyzed, in order to assess the influence of atomic charge on bond formation. We argue that in the case of anions, nonconventional hydrogen bonds are formed. It is generally accepted that the hydrogen bond A-H...B is formed by the union of a proton donor group A-H and a proton acceptor B, which contains lone-pair electrons. In this study, we found that in the case of (Cu-cytosine)(-1) and (Ag-cytosine)(-1), N-H...Cu and N-H...Ag bonds are geometrically described as nonconventional hydrogen bonds. Their binding energies fall within the range of -20.0 to -55.4 kcal/mol (depending on the scheme of the reaction) and thus they are classified as examples of strong (>10 kcal/mol) hydrogen bonds.     

星际媒介H2NCH2CN与H2O反应中的H2O分子偶合质子转移机理和氢隧道效应

H2NCH2CN+H2O→H2NCH2C(OH)NH是一个重要的反应, 涉及到星际媒介中甘氨酸的形成, 与早期地球上的氨基酸起源有关. 如果没有考虑氢隧道效应, 在MP2/6-311+G(d,p)级别上计算反应能垒是254.7 kJ·mol-1, 在星际媒介中该气相反应很难进行. 在星际媒介冰颗粒表面上, 水分子催化反应增强了该化学反应的活性. H2NCH2CN与(H2O)3反应中的两个水分子作为催化剂降低活化能77.5 kJ·mol-1和活化自由能70.9 kJ·mol-1, 并且通过氢键桥协同传递质子. 量子氢隧道对于该反应进行至关紧要,采用小弯曲隧道(SCT)近似和正则变分过渡态理论(CVT)方法研究. 温度50 K时, 速率常数kSCT/CVT为1.86×10-23 cm3·molecule-1·s-1, 表明在星际媒介中通过质子隧道机理该反应容易进行. 研究结果与地球上的氨基酸起源于地球本身物质的观点相一致.     

钇对石墨烯储氢性能的影响

应用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法研究过渡金属钇（Y）修饰对石墨烯储氢性能的影响。考虑Y原子在石墨烯上易形成团簇,采用B原子掺杂有效阻止了团簇形成。通过模拟计算得到的改性体系稳定、储氢性能优异,可吸附6个H₂分子,平均吸附能范围为-0.539到-0.655 eV （per H₂）,理论上满足理想的氢吸附能范围。经Bader电荷初步计算和基于Y/B/graphene （G）体系吸附H₂分子的电子态密度及电荷差分密度图分析得,Y原子与石墨烯间通过电荷转移产生结合,与H₂分子则发生典型的Kubas型相互作用。Y原子改变了H₂分子与石墨烯基的电荷分布,成为连接两者电子云的桥梁,从而增强了H₂分子的吸附能。改性石墨烯体系吸附的均为氢分子,有利于在环境温度和压力条件下进行循环控制,是具有良好发展前景的储氢材料之一。     

(CH3)2S与HOCl分子间的卤键和氢键相互作用

在DFT-B3LYP/6-311++G**水平上分别求得(CH3)2S…ClOH卤键复合物和(CH3)2S…HOCl氢键复合物势能面上的稳定构型. 频率分析表明, 与单体HOCl相比, 在两种复合物中, 10Cl—11O和12H—11O键伸缩振动频率发生显著的红移. 经MP2/6-311++G**水平计算的含基组重叠误差(BSSE)校正的气相中相互作用能分别为-11.69和-24.16 kJ·mol-1. 自然键轨道理论(NBO)分析表明, 在(CH3)2S…ClOH卤键复合物中, 引起10Cl—11O键变长的因素包括两种电荷转移: (i) 孤对电子LP(1S)1→σ*(10Cl—11O); (ii) 孤对电子LP(1S)2→σ*(10Cl—11O), 其中孤对电子LP(1S)2→σ*(10Cl—11O)转移占主要作用, 总的结果是使σ*(10Cl—11O)的自然布居数增加0.14035e, 同时11O原子的再杂化使其与10Cl成键时s成分增加, 即具有与电荷转移作用同样的“拉长效应”; 在(CH3)2S…HOCl氢键复合物中也存在类似的电荷转移, 但是11O原子的再杂化不同于前者. 自然键共振理论(NRT)进行键序分析表明, 在卤键复合物和氢键复合物中, 10Cl—11O和12H—11O键的键序都减小. 通过分子中原子理论(AIM)分析了复合物中卤键和氢键的电子密度拓扑性质.     

Mechanisms for the proton mobility-dependent gas-phase fragmentation reactions of S-alkyl cysteine sulfoxide-containing peptide ions

Mechanisms for the gas-phase fragmentation reactions of singly and multiply protonated precursor ions of the model S-alkyl cysteine sulfoxide-containing peptides GAILCGAILK, GAILCGAILR, and VTMGHFCNFGK prepared by reaction with iodomethane, iodoacetamide, iodoacetic acid, acrylamide, or 4-vinylpyridine, followed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, as well as peptides obtained from an S-carboxyamidomethylated and oxidized tryptic digest of bovine serum albumin, have been examined using multistage tandem mass spectrometry, hydrogen/deuterium exchange and molecular orbital calculations (at the B3LYP/6-31 + G(d,p) level of theory). Consistent with previous reports, CID-MS/MS of the S-alkyl cysteine sulfoxide-containing peptide ions resulted in the dominant "non-sequence" neutral loss of an alkyl sulfenic acid (XSOH) from the modified cysteine side chains under conditions of low proton mobility, irrespective of the alkylating reagent employed. Dissociation of uniformly deuterated precursor ions of these model peptides determined that the loss of alkyl sulfenic acid in each case occurred via a "charge-remote" five-centered cis-1,2 elimination reaction to yield a dehydroalanine-containing product ion. Similarly, the charge state dependence to the mechanisms and product ion structures for the losses of CO(2), CO(2) + H(2)O and CO(2) + CH(2)O from S-carboxymethyl cysteine sulfoxide-containing peptides, and for the losses of CH(2)CHCONH(2) and CH(2)CHC(5)H(4)N, respectively, from S-amidoethyl and S-pyridylethyl cysteine sulfoxide-containing peptide ions have also been determined. The results from these studies indicate that both the proton mobility of the peptide precursor ion and the nature of the S-alkyl substituent have a significant influence on the abundances and charge states of the product ions resulting from the various competing fragmentation pathways.     

Synthesis and structure of some azo coupled cyclic beta-enaminones

The reaction of 3-phenylaminocyclopent-2-en-1-one with 4-methyl, 4-methoxy and 4-chlorobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborates was used to prepare the azo coupling products 3a-c. It was found that these compounds are present in both CDCl(3) solution and solid phase practically exclusively as (E)-3-phenylamino-2-(4-subst.phenyldiazenyl)cyclopent-2-en-1-ones with N--H...N intramolecular hydrogen bond. The substitution of the phenyl residue of the diazonium salt has no effect on the position of the tautomeric equilibrium. On the other hand, the compounds 4a, b formed by the reaction of 3-phenylamino-1H-inden-1-one with 4-methylbenzene- or benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborates exist in CDCl(3) solution and in solid phase as hydrazone compounds. In the solution they occur as a mixture of three forms, out of which two were identified as E/Z isomers with different types of hydrogen bonds. Compound 5 formed by the reaction of 3-amino-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-one with 4-methoxybenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate is converted into a stable hydrochloride 5.HCl on standing in CHCl(3) solution; this product exhibits a high degree of delocalization of the positive charge. Its structure was studied by means of X-ray.     

A first-principles study of molecular oxygen dissociation at an electrode surface: a comparison of potential variation and coadsorption effects

Influences of coadsorbed sodium and water, aqueous solvent, and electrode potential on the kinetics of O(2) dissociation over Pt(111) are systematically investigated using density functional theory models of vacuum and electrochemical interfaces. Na coadsorption alters the electronic states of Pt to stabilize the reactant (O(2)*), transition, and product (2O*) states by facilitating electron donation to oxygen, causing a more exothermic reaction energy (-0.84 eV for Na and O(2), -0.81 eV for isolated O(2)) and a decrease in dissociation barrier (0.39 eV for Na and O(2), 0.57 eV for isolated O(2)). Solvation decreases the reaction energy (-0.67 eV) due to enhanced hydrogen bond stabilization of O(2)* compared to 2O*. The influence of Na is less pronounced at the solvated interface (barrier decreases by only 0.11 eV) because H(2)O screens Na charge-donation. In the electrochemical model system, the dissociation energy becomes more exothermic and the barrier decreases toward more positive potentials. Potential-dependent behavior results from changes in interfacial dipole moment and polarizability between O(2)*, the dissociation transition state, and 2O*; each are influenced by changes in adsorption and hydrogen bonding. Coadsorption of Na in the solvated system dampens the dipole moment change between O(2)* and 2O* and significantly increases the polarizability at the dissociation transition state and for 2O*; the combination causes little change in the reaction energy but reduces the activation barrier by 0.08 eV at 0 V versus NHE. The potential-dependent behavior contrasts that determined at a constant surface charge or from an applied electric field, illustrating the importance of considering the electrochemical potential at the fully-solvated interface in determining reaction energetics, even for non-redox reactions.     

Theoretical study and rate constant computation on the reaction HFCO + OH --> CFO + H2O

The potential energy surface, including the geometries and frequencies of the stationary points, of the reaction HFCO + OH is calculated using the MP2 method with 6-31+G(d,p) basis set, which shows that the direct hydrogen abstraction route is the most dominating channel with respect to addition and substitution channels. For the hydrogen abstraction reaction, the single-point energies are refined at the QCISD(T) method with 6-311++G(2df,2pd) basis set. The calculated standard reaction enthalpy and barrier height are -17.1 and 4.9 kcal mol(-1), respectively, at the QCISD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2pd)//MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. The reaction rate constants within 250-2500 K are calculated by the improved canonical variational transition state theory (ICVT) with small-curvature tunneling (SCT) correction at the QCISD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2pd)//MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. The fitted three-parameter formula is k = 2.875 x 10(-13) (T/1000)1.85 exp(-325.0/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The results indicate that the calculated ICVT/SCT rate constant is in agreement with the experimental data, and the tunneling effect in the lower temperature range plays an important role in computing the reaction rate constants.     

C2H3与CH3F氢抽提反应机理与动力学性质

采用双水平直接动力学方法对C₂H₃与CH₃F氢抽提反应进行了研究. 在QCISD(T)/6-311++G(d, p)//B3LYP/6-311G(d, p)水平上, 计算的三个反应通道R1、R2和R3的能垒(ΔE^≠)分别为43.2、43.9和44.1 kJ·mol^-1, 反应热为-38.2 kJ·mol^-1. 此外, 利用传统过渡态理论(TST)、正则变分过渡态理论(CVT)和包含小曲率隧道效应(SCT)的CVT, 分别计算了200-3000 K温度范围内反应的速率常数k^TST、k^CVT和k^CVT/SCT. 结果表明: (1) 三个氢抽提反应通道的速率常数随温度的增加而增大, 其中变分效应的影响可以忽略, 隧道效应则在低温段影响显著; (2) R1反应是主反应通道, 但随着温度的升高, R2反应的竞争力增大, 而R3反应对总速率常数的影响很小.     

A new solvent-dependent mechanism for a triazolinedione ene reaction

The ene reaction between 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) and tetramethylethylene has been investigated using QM/MM calculations in water, methanol, DMSO, and acetonitrile. The effects of solvation on the mechanism and rates of reaction are elucidated using two-dimensional potentials of mean force (PMF) simulations utilizing free-energy perturbation theory and Monte Carlo statistical mechanics. A new mechanism is proposed where direct formation of an open dipolar intermediate following the addition of PTAD to the alkene is rate-limiting and the pathway toward ene product is significantly dependent on the reaction medium. In protic solvents, the open dipolar intermediate may proceed directly to the ene product or reversibly form an aziridinium imide (AI) intermediate that does not participate in the reaction. However, in aprotic solvents the open intermediate is short-lived (<10-11 s) and the ene product forms via the AI intermediate. The calculated free energies of activation are in close agreement with those derived from experiment, e.g., DeltaG of 14.9 kcal/mol compared to 15.0 kcal/mol in acetonitrile. Density functional theory calculations at the (U)B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) level using the CPCM continuum solvent model were also carried out and confirmed a zwitterionic, and not diradical, open intermediate present in the reaction. Only the QM/MM methodology was able to accurately reproduce the experimental rates and differentiate between the protic and aprotic solvents. Solute-solvent interaction energies, radial distribution functions, and charges are analyzed and show that the major factor dictating the changes in reaction path is hydrogen bond stabilization of the charge separations spanning 2 to 4 atoms in the intermediates and transition states.     

A DFT-based study of the hydrogen-bonding interactions between epicatechin and methanol/water

Tea polyphenols are essential components that give tea its medicinal properties. Methanol and water are frequently used as solvents in the extraction of polyphenols. Hydrogen-bonding interactions are significant in the extraction reaction. Density functional theory (DFT) techniques were used to conduct a theoretical investigation on the hydrogen-bonding interactions between methanol or water and epicatechin, an abundant polyphenol found in tea. After first analyzing the epicatechin monomer's molecular geometry and charge characteristics, nine stable epicatechin (EC) H₂O/CH₂OH complex geometries were discovered. The presence of hydrogen bonding in these improved structures has been proven. The calculated hydrogen bond structures are very stable, among which the hydrogen bond bonded with a hydroxyl group has higher stability. The nine complex structures’ hydrogen bonds were thought to represent closed-shell-type interactions. The interaction energy with 30O-31H on the epicatechin benzene ring is the strongest in the hydrogen bond structure. While the other hydrogen bonds were weak in strength and mostly had an electrostatic nature, the hydrogen bonds between the oxygen atoms in H₂O or CH₂OH and the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups in epicatechin were of moderate strength and had a covalent character. Comparing the changes in the hydrogen bond structure vibration peak, the main change in concentration peak is the hydrogen bond vibration peak in the complex. Improved the study on the hydrogen bond properties of CH₂OH and H₂O of EC.     

CH3SH…HOO开壳型氢键复合物的结构及其电子密度拓扑性质

在DFT-B3LYP/6-311++G**水平下求得CH3SH…HOO复合物势能面上的稳定构型. 计算结果表明, 在HOO以其O8—H7作为质子供体与CH3SH分子中的S5原子为质子受体形成的氢键复合物1和2中, O8—H7明显被“拉长”, 且其伸缩振动频率发生显著的红移, 红移值分别为330.1和320.4 cm-1; 在CH3SH分子以其S5—H6作为质子供体与HOO的端基O9原子为质子受体形成的氢键复合物3和4中, 也存在类似的情况, 但S5—H6伸缩振动频率红移不大. 经MP2/6-311++G**水平计算的4种复合物含BSSE校正的相互作用能分别为-20.81, -20.10, -4.46和-4.52 kJ/mol. 自然键轨道理论(NBO)分析表明, 在CH3SH…HOO复合物1和2中, 引起H7—O8键长增加的因素包括两种电荷转移, 即孤对电子n1(S5)→σ*(H7—O8)和孤对电子n2(S5)→σ*(H7—O8), 其中后者为主要作用. 在复合物3和4中也有相似的电荷转移情况, 但轨道间的相互作用要弱一些. AIM理论分析结果表明, 4个复合物中的S5…H7间和O9…H6间都存在键鞍点, 且其Laplacian量▽2ρ(r)都是很小的正值, 说明这种相互作用介于共价键和离子键之间, 偏静电作用为主.     

An assessment of theoretical procedures for predicting the thermochemistry and kinetics of hydrogen abstraction by methyl radical from benzene

The reaction enthalpy (298 K), barrier (0 K), and activation energy and preexponential factor (600-800 K) have been examined computationally for the abstraction of hydrogen from benzene by the methyl radical, to assess their sensitivity to the applied level of theory. The computational methods considered include high-level composite procedures, including W1, G3-RAD, G3(MP2)-RAD, and CBS-QB3, as well as conventional ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods, with the latter two classes employing the 6-31G(d), 6-31+G(d,p) and/or 6-311+G(3df,2p) basis sets, and including ZPVE/thermal corrections obtained from 6-31G(d) or 6-31+G(d,p) calculations. Virtually all the theoretical procedures except UMP2 are found to give geometries that are suitable for subsequent calculation of the reaction enthalpy and barrier. For the reaction enthalpy, W1, G3-RAD, and URCCSD(T) give best agreement with experiment, while the large-basis-set DFT procedures slightly underestimate the endothermicity. The reaction barrier is slightly more sensitive to the choice of basis set and/or correlation level, with URCCSD(T) and the low-cost BMK method providing values in close agreement with the benchmark G3-RAD value. Inspection of the theoretically calculated rate parameters reveals a minor dependence on the level of theory for the preexponential factor. There is more sensitivity for the activation energy, with a reasonable agreement with experiment being obtained for the G3 methods and the hybrid functionals BMK, BB1K, and MPW1K, especially in combination with the 6-311+G(3df,2p) basis set. Overall, the high-level G3-RAD composite procedure, URCCSD(T), and the cost-effective DFT methods BMK, BB1K, and MPW1K give the best results among the methods assessed for calculating the thermochemistry and kinetics of hydrogen abstraction by the methyl radical from benzene.     

A new charge-associated mechanism to account for the production of fragment ions in the high-energy CID spectra of fatty acids

A new mechanism, termed a charge-assisted process, is proposed as an additional mechanism to the charge-remote process to account for ions of the [M - CnH2n+2] series found in the positive and negative high energy CID spectra of fatty acids and related compounds when ionized as closed-shell ([M - H]- or [M + X]+) species. The new mechanism is based on that commonly invoked to account for similar ions in the electron-impact spectra of derivatized fatty acids whereby the positive charge on the derivative abstracts a hydrogen atom from various positions of the alkyl chain to leave a radical that initiates a radical-induced cleavage of the chain. It is proposed that in the high energy CID spectra of closed-shell ions, similar hydrogen migrations occur but unpairing of electrons is avoided by charge transfer to the alkyl chain. This charge then initiates a concerted cleavage of the chain to give an allylic carbonium (positive ion spectrum) or carbanion (negative ion spectrum). The mechanism avoids the need to involve radicals or loss of hydrogen atoms from even-electron (closed shell) ions and provides a driving force for the reaction, namely, the formation of ions with a stabilized charge. An extension of the mechanism is also proposed to account for the formation of odd-electron ions from these compounds. The charge-assisted mechanism does not rule out the occurrence of other mechanisms that have been accepted for many years but provides an alternative process that can account for some spectral features which were difficult to explain earlier.