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

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

Chemical ionization mass spectra of selected C3H6O compounds

The chemical ionization mass spectra of five isomers of C₃H₆O (acetone, propionaldehyde, oxetane, propylene oxide and allyl alcohol) have been determined using a variety of reagent gases (H₂, D₂, N₂/H₂, CO₂/H₂ and CO/H₂). The [C₃H₇O]⁺ ions produced by protonation of these isomers undergo very similar reactions to those reported for analogous [C₃H₇O]⁺ metastable ions; however, decomposing ions generated by chemical ionization appear to have somewhat higher internal energies. The results of ²H labelling studies (D₂ reagent gas or labelled analogues of C₃H₆O) indicate that protonation occurs mainly on oxygen and are consistent with previous investigations of metastable oxonium ions. The protonated acetone ion is particularly stable, in agreement with the higher activation energies for fragmentation of this isomer than for other [C₃H₇O]⁺ structures. As the calculated heat of protonation of C₃H₆O is reduced by changing the reagent gas, so the extent to which fragmentation occurs decreases. This is discussed in the context of competition between fragmentation and collisional stabilization of the excited [C₃H₇O]⁺* ion. It is concluded that on average a large fraction (approaching 1) of the exothermicity of the protonation reaction resides in the [C₃H₇O]⁺* ions produced initially.     

Structures of decomposing and non-decomposing gas-phase [C4H6O]+· radical cations,and their [C2H2O]+· and [C3H6]+· product ions

The structures of gas-phase [C₄H₆O]^+· radical cations and their daughter ions of composition [C₂H₂O]^+· and [C₃H₆]^+· were investigated by using collisionally activated dissociation, metastable ion measurement, kinetic energy release and collisional ionization tandem mass spectrometric techniques. Electron ionization (70 eV) of ethoxyacetylene, methyl vinyl ketone, crotonaldehyde and 1-methoxyallene yields stable [C₄H₆O]^+· ions, whereas the cyclic C₄H₆O compounds undergo ring opening to stable distonic ions. The structures of [C₂H₃O]^+· ions produced by 70-eV ionization of several C₄H₆O compounds are identical with that of the ketene radical cation. The [C₃H₆]^+· ions generated from crotonaldehyde, methacrylaldehyde, and cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde have structures similar to that of the propene radical cations, whereas those ions generated from the remainder of the [C₄H₆O]^+· ions studied here produced a mixed population of cyclopropane and propene radical cations.     

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

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

Further examples of skeletal rearrangements of the Wagner-Meerwein type in chemical ionization mass spectrometry: The case of [C6H9]+ ions

The [C₆H₉]⁺ ions produced either via unimolecular H₂O loss from 13 [C₆H₁₁O]⁺ precursors or direct protonation of 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexadiene have identical collisional activation mass spectra. The kinetic energy release data for the process [C₆H₁₁O]⁺→[C₆H₉]⁺+H₂O are also very similar (on average T_0.5=24 meV) irrespective of the constitution of the precursor. From the proton affinities of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (PA=837.2 kJ mol^?1) using ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry the heat of formation of the [C₆H₉]⁺ ion is determined to 804.6 kJ mol^?1. This value taken together with the results of molecular orbital calculations (MNDO) and the structure indicative losses of CH₃^. and C₂H₄ upon collisional activation suggest that the [C₆H₉]⁺ ion has the structure of the 1-methylcyclopentenylium ion f and not that of the slightly less stable cyclohexenylium ion g. The generator of an easily interconverting system of isomeric [C₆H₉]⁺ ions is unlikely to be due to the high barrier separating the various isomers.     

Gas phase bimolecular chemistry of isomeric C3H6Br+ cations

The gas phase chemistry of C₃H₆Br⁺ cations generated via low energy electron impact on various dibromopropanes has been studied by using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Neutral substrate molecules that have been selected to probe the bimolecular reactivity of the C₃H₆Br⁺ isomers are ammonia, methylamine, trimethylamine, cis-butene, and 2, 3-dimethyl-2-butene. At least three different isomers are characterized on the basis of their different reactivity toward the various substrate molecules. It is suggested that these isomers have (a) the 2-bromo-2-propyl cation structure, (b) the propylenebromomum ion structure, and (c) the cyclic four-membered trimethylenebromonium ion structure. The 2-bromo-2-propyl cations react predominantely via proton transfer. This reaction is hampered for the propylenebromonium ions, which react mainly as electrophiles or bromanyl cation donors. Cyclic trimethylenebromoruum ions react predominantly via adduct formation, even under low pressure conditions, which implies that tturd body collisions are not the only stabilization mechanism.     

A structural investigation of [C6H6]2+ and [C6H6]+˙ ions involved in charge exchange reactions

Mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra for collisional activation (CA) of [C₆H₆]⁺˙ formed via electron capture by [C₆H₆]²⁺ ions in collision with neutral benzene molecules have been compared for the C₆H₆ isomers benzene, 1,5-hexadiyne and 2,4-hexadiyne. Comparisons of fragment abundance and total CA fragment yields were also made for [C₆H₆]⁺˙ ions generated by electron ionization (EI). CA conditions of ion velocity and collision gas pressure were identical in these comparisons. In general the fragment abundance patterns for the ions formed by charge exchange were very similar to those for singly charged benzene ions generated by EI. However, significant variations in CA fragment yield (the ratio of the total CA fragment ion abundance to the abundance of the incident unfragmented ions) were observed. It is not clear from the results whether these variations reflect structurally different ions or ions of different internal energies. The CA spectra of [C₆H₆]⁺˙ ions derived from charge exchange reactions between the benzene dication and the target gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe have also been recorded and, once again, very similar fragment abundance patterns were observed along with large variations in total CA fragment yields. Charge exchange efficiency measurements are reported for reactions between the benzene dication and the targets He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe and C₆H₆ (benzene) and also for the doubly charged ions derived from the linear C₆H₆ isomers. In the latter case Xe and benzene targets were used. The energetics and efficiency measurements for the former reactions suggest that for targets such as He and Ne the processes probably involve excited states of the doubly charged ions. The efficiencies measured for the latter reactions were distinctly different for the three C₆H₆ isomers and may indicate a strong dependence of charge exchange cross-section on doubly charged ion structure.     

Unimolecular ethyl loss from metastable 13C labelled [C5H10O]+˙ ions with the oxygen on the middle carbon: An example for incomplete energy randomization?

The investigation of ¹³C labelled 3-pentanone cation radicals generated via isomerization of the corresponding [C₅H₁₀O]^+˙ enol cation radicals demonstrates unambiguously that, in contrast to previous investigations, unimolecular ethyl loss from ¹³C labelled 3-pentanone cation radicals is preceded by complete energy randomization.     

Molecular fragmentations: Part VII. Structures and energies of mass spectral fragments derived from benzene

Molecular structures and energies have been calculated, using MINDO/3, of the mass spectral ions arising from benzene: (C₆H₆)⁺ (three non-valence isomers); (C₆H₅⁺); (C₅H₃⁺) (four isomers); (C₄H₄)⁺ (three isomers); (C₄H₃)⁺ (two isomers); (C₄H₂)⁺ (four isomers); (C₃H₃)⁺; and (C₂H₂)⁺. Calculations have been made for the conjugate neutral fragments, allowing calculation of appearance potentials, and also for the ion (C₆H₇)⁺.     

[C7H7] radicals studied by neutralization reionization mass spectrometry; the ortho-tolyl to benzyl radical rearrangement

The collision-induced dissociation characteristics of the benzyl, tropyl and tolyl cations which serve to identify these [C₇H₇]⁺ isomers (the m/z 74–77 relative abundances) were not preserved in their neutralization-reionization (NR) mass spectra. However, analyses of mixtures of the [C₇H₇]⁺ isomers made by comparison of NR mass spectra gave similar results to those obtained from collisional activation (CA) mass spectra. The radicals produced by electron transfer from Xe to tolyl cations were not observed to rearrange to benzyl radicals on the time-scale of the NR experiment, a result in conflict with other gas-phase studies.     

4‐Carboxypyridinium perchlorate 18‐crown‐6 dihydrate clathrate and 4‐carboxypyridinium tetrafluoroborate 18‐crown‐6 dihydrate clathrate

Mixtures of 4‐carboxypyridinium perchlorate or 4‐carboxypyridinium tetrafluoroborate and 18‐crown‐6 (1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxacyclooctadecane) in ethanol and water solution yielded the title supramolecular salts, C₆H₆NO₂⁺·ClO₄⁻·C₁₂H₂₄O₆·2H₂O and C₆H₆NO₂⁺·BF₄⁻·C₁₂H₂₄O₆·2H₂O. Based on their similar crystal symmetries, unit cells and supramolecular assemblies, the salts are essentially isostructural. The asymmetric unit in each structure includes one protonated isonicotinic acid cation and one crown ether molecule, which together give a [(C₆H₆NO₂)(18‐crown‐6)]⁺ supramolecular cation. N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the protonated N atoms and a single O atom of each crown ether result in the 4‐carboxypyridinium cations `perching' on the 18‐crown‐6 molecules. Further hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving the supramolecular cation and both water molecules form a one‐dimensional zigzag chain that propagates along the crystallographic c direction. O—H...O or O—H...F hydrogen bonds between one of the water molecules and the anions fix the anion positions as pendant upon this chain, without further increasing the dimensionality of the supramolecular network.     

Synthesis and Structure of Ionic Liquids Containing the ­[Al(OC6H4CN)4]– Anion

The synthesis, structure, and physical properties of ionic liquids (IL) bearing the novel [Al(O–C₆H₄–CN)₄]^– ion as counterion to the commonly used [NR₄]⁺, [PR₄]⁺ and imidazolium ions are reported. Both the influence of the alkyl chain length as well as the functionalization with cyano groups is studied. These ILs are easily obtained by reaction of Ag[Al(O–C₆H₄–CN)₄] with the corresponding ammonium, phosphonium, and imidazolium halides. The stability towards electrophilic cations was investigated. All prepared salts have a window for the liquid phase of ca. 200 °C and are thermally stable up to 450 °C. The solid‐state structures reveal only weak cation ··· anion and anion ··· anion interactions in accord with the observed low melting points (glass transition points).     

Ionization and dissociation of C6F6 isomers under electron impact

The mass spectra of hexafluorobenzene, hexafluorobicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene (perfluoro-Dewar benzene) and 1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluorohexa-2,4-diyne, and the fragmentation mechanisms of their parent ions are reported. The behaviour of the two cyclic isomers under electron impact is very similar; the linear one behaves quite differently. The ionization potentials of the molecules and the appearance potentials of the fragment ions (both normal and metastable) have been measured. The heats of formation of [C₆F₅]⁺ and [C₅F₃]⁺ are calculated. A value for the heat of formation of 1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluorohexa-2,4-diyne is proposed.     

Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionic acid

Nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes with the commercial herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D; C₈H₆O₃Cl₂) and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionic acid (2,4DP; C₉H₈O₃Cl₂) were prepared and characterized. On the basis of the results of elemental analysis and Ni and Co determination, the following molecular formulae were proposed for the obtained compounds: Ni(C₈H₅O₃Cl₂)₂·6H₂O, Co(C₈H₅O₃Cl₂)₂·6H₂O, Ni(C₉H₇O₃Cl₂)₂·2H₂O and Co(C₉H₇O₃Cl₂)₂·2H₂O. X-ray powder analysis was carried out. The IR, electronic (VIS) spectra and conductivity data were discussed. Water solubility of the synthesized complexes at room temperature was examined. Thermal decomposition of the compounds was studied. Dehydration processes occur during heating in air. The anhydrous compounds decompose via different intermediate products to oxides. TG/MS studies indicate formation of gaseous mass fragments of decomposition including H₂O⁺, OH⁺, CO₂ ⁺, HCl⁺, Cl₂ ⁺, CH₃Cl⁺, CH₂O⁺, C₆H₆ ⁺ and other. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Structural Isomerization of the Gas‐Phase 2‐Norbornyl Cation Revealed with Infrared Spectroscopy and Computational Chemistry

In an attempt to produce the 2‐norbornyl cation (2NB⁺) in the gas phase, protonation of norbornene was accomplished in a pulsed discharge ion source coupled with a supersonic molecular beam. The C₇H₁₁⁺ cation was size‐selected in a time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer and investigated with infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy using the method of “tagging” with argon. The resulting vibrational spectrum, containing sharp bands in the C? H stretching and fingerprint regions, was compared to that predicted by computational chemistry. However, the measured spectrum did not match that of 2NB⁺, prompting a detailed computational study of other possible isomers of C₇H₁₁⁺. This study finds five isomers more stable than 2NB⁺. The spectrum obtained corresponds to the 1,3‐dimethylcyclopentenyl cation, the global minimum‐energy structure for C₇H₁₁⁺, which is produced through an unanticipated ring‐opening rearrangement path.     

Molecular fragmentations: Part IX. Structures and energies of mass spectral fragments derived from xanthan hydride, 5-amino-1,2,4-dithiazolin-3-thione

Structures and energies have been calculated, in the MNDO approximation, for xanthan hydride (C₂H₂N₂S₃) and its molecular cation, and for the mass spectral fragment ions H₂NCNCS⁺, HNCNCS⁺, CS₂⁺, H₂N₂CS⁺ (two isomers), HN₂CS⁺, S₂⁺, H₂NCS⁺ (three isomers), HNCS⁺ (two isomers), H₃N₂C₂⁺ (four isomers), CS⁺ and HNCS⁺² (two isomers), together with the corresponding neutral fragments.     

The Chemistry of C6H6O radical cations: A study of rearrangement reactions of halogen substituted ethyl phenyl ethers

New experimental data on the rearrangement reaction of various phenoxyethyl halides to give [C₆H₆O]^+˙ are presented and compared with previous studies so that a coherent picture of this process can be developed. By examining the metastable kinetic energy release for low energy decomposing molecular ions of the phenoxyethyl halides, it has been concluded that formation of [C₆H₆O] occurs by competitive 1,2 and 1,3 hydrogen shifts from the alkyl carbons to oxygen followed by a rate determining C? O bond cleavage. This is substantiated by the absence of a primary hydrogen isotope effect. For more highly activated molecular ions, a new mechanism comes into play as evidenced by the appearance of a small hydrogen isotope effect. It is postulated that this third mechanism involves transfer of the alkyl hydrogen to the ortho position of the ring by a rate determining 1,5 shift, followed by a 1,3 hydrogen shift from the ortho methylene group to oxygen and rapid C? O bond cleavage. This 1,3 hydrogen shift to oxygen appears to be ‘catalysed’ by the halogen atoms yielding phenol ions. No indications have been found for the formation of tautomeric 2,4-cyclohexadienone ions. Furthermore, highly activated molecular ions produce [C₆H₆O]^+˙ which can undergo metastable decomposition to lose carbon monoxide. Kinetic energy release measurements for the latter reaction show that the majority of these [C₆H₆O]^+˙ions have been formed as phenol ions as well. These arguments are supported by energetic measurements and by comparisons with previous ion cyclotron resonance and collisional activation studies.     

Photodissociation of protonated β-diketones in the gas phase

The gas phase photodissociation spectra of four protonated β-diketones were obtained and compared with the absorption spectra of the corresponding ions in solution. Protonated 2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₅H₉O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₃H₆O with a λmax at 276±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 286 nm. Protonated 2,4-hexanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation processes [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₄H₈O and [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [C₂H₅CO]⁺ +C₃H₆O with a λmax at 279±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 288 nm. Protonated 3-methyl-2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₄H₈O with a λmax at 295±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 305 nm. Protonated 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₅H₆F₃O₂]⁺ +hν → CF₃H+[C₄H₅O₂]⁺ with a λmax at 273±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 288 nm. The [CH₃CO]⁺ and [C₂H₅CO]⁺ produced photochemically with the first three ions react to regenerate the protonated β-diketone leading to a photostationary state. Photodissociation of the protonated alkyl β-diketones is believed to occur from the protonated keto form, whereas photodissociation of protonated 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione is believed to occur from the protonated enol form. Mechanisms for the observed photodissociation processes are proposed and comparisons with results from related techniques are presented.     

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

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

A photoionization study of [C4H7]+ ions in the gas phase

The ionization and [C₄H₇]⁺ appearance energies for a series of C₄H₇CI and C₄H₇Br isomers have been measured by dissociative photoionization mass spectrometry. Cationic heats of formation, based on the stationary electron convention, are derived. No threshold ion is observed with a heat of formation corresponding to the trans-1-methylallyl cation, although there is evidence for formation of the less stable cis isomer. A 298 K heat of formation of 871 kJ mol^?1 is obtained for the cyclopropylcarbinyl cation, with the cyclobutyl cation having a higher value of 886 kJ mol^?1. At the HF/6-31G^** level, ab initio molecular orbital calculations show the 2-butenyl, isobutenyl and homoallyl cations to be stable forms of [C₄H₇]⁺, being less stable than the trans-1-methylallyl cation by 101 kJ mol^?1, 159 kJ mol^?1 and 164 kJ mol^?1, respectively. However, threshold formation is not observed for any of these ions, the fragmentation of appropriate precursor molecules producing [C₄H₇]⁺ ions with lower energy structures.