Isomerization and dissociation of C2X5+ and C2X4+* ions (X = Cl,F) from chlorofluoroethanes in an ion trap mass spectrometer

The collision-induced dissociation of C(2)X(5)(+) (C(2)Cl(2)F(3)(+), C(2)Cl(3)F(2)(+) and C(2)Cl(4)F(+)) and C(2)X(4)(+.) ions (C(2)ClF(3)(+*), C(2)Cl(2)F(2)(+*), and C(2)ClF(3)(+*)) derived from three chlorofluoroethanes (the isomeric 1,1,1- and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane and 1,1,1,2-tetrachlorodifluoroethane) was investigated by means of multi-stage mass spectrometric (MS(n)) experiments in an ion trap mass spectrometer. The observation of a common dissociation pattern for ions of any given elemental composition suggests that the experiments could not differentiate isomeric C(2)X(5)(+) ions formed from different neutral precursors and originally having different structures. For any given elemental composition, a common dissociation pattern was observed, suggesting that energy barriers for isomer interconversion are lower than for dissociation. For ions containing two or more fluorine atoms, the major (in some cases unique) dissociation involves C-C cleavage to form CX(3)(+) and CF(2). Energetically, CF(2) loss is always the most favorable reaction; mechanistically it implies, at least in some cases, rearrangement via halogen transfer from one carbon to the other (for example, in the case of the C(2)Cl(2)F(3)(+) species derived from 1,1,1-trichlorotrifluoroethane, which should have initially the Cl(2)C(+)-CF(3) structure). Similar behavior was observed with C(2)X(4)(+*) ions produced both from the three chlorofluoroethanes and from model alkenes (trifluorochloroethene and tetrachloroethene). The dissociation behavior of these C(2)X(4)(+*) species is characteristic of the ion composition, with no memory of the original neutral precursor structure. Specifically, C(2)Cl(2)F(2)(+*) ions dissociate uniquely via loss of CF(2), C(2)ClF(3)(+*) ions eliminate preferentially CF, with CF(2) loss being only a minor reaction, whereas C(2)Cl(3)F(+*) and C(2)Cl(4)(+*) dissociate exclusively via Cl elimination.     

Rydberg electron transfer to SF6: product ion lifetimes

The lifetimes of SF6- ions produced by Rydberg electron transfer in K(np)SF6 collisions at high n, n greater or similar to 30, are examined using a Penning ion trap. The data point to the formation of ions with a range of lifetimes that extends from approximately 1 to greater or similar to 10 ms. Sizable numbers of ions remain in the trap even 40 ms after initial injection and at least part of this signal can be attributed to radiative stabilization. Measurements of free low-energy electron attachment to SF6 in the trap show that the product ions have lifetimes similar to those of SF6- ions formed by electron transfer in high-n collisions.     

Rydberg electron transfer to C6H5NO2: lifetimes and characteristics of the product C6H5NO2- ions

The nature of electron binding in C6H5NO2- ions produced by Rydberg electron transfer in K(np)C6H5NO2 collisions is investigated through measurements of the number and the lifetimes of the product ions and their dependence on Rydberg atom velocity and principal quantum number n in the range 12 相似文献   

Structure and magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic Cu3Cl12(6)- trimer in [(NH3C2H4)3NH]2Cu3Cl14

The crystal structure consists of a strongly hydrogen bonded network of tris(N-ethylammonium)ammonium cations, Cu3Cl12(6)- trimeric species, and Cl- anions. The Cu3Cl12(6)- trimers are formed by two distorted tetrahedral CuCl4(2)- anions linked to a central square planar CuCl4(2)- anion via semicoordinate Cu-Cl...Cu mu1 bridges. The central copper ion shows only small deviations from ideal D4h symmetry, while the terminal copper ions show a mild distortion from D2d symmetry with an average trans Cl-Cu-Cl angle of 136.0 degrees. The semicoordinate linkages provide a ferromagnetic exchange pathway between the copper ions with J/k = 6.91(3) K. Short Cl...Cl contacts (3.67-3.90 angstoms) lead to very weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the ferromagnetically coupled trimers.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, X-ray structure and complex magnetic behaviour of Ba4(C2O4)Cl2[[Fe(C2O4)(OH)]4

Hydrothermal reaction of iron(III) chloride, barium chloride and sodium oxalate in a narrow stoichiometry range produces the title compound Ba4(C2O4)Cl2[[Fe(C2O4)(OH)]4] (1). This new iron(II) oxalate crystallises in the tetragonal space group P42/mnm: a = 13.811(3), c = 7.026(2) A. The structure consists of parallel chains of mu2-hydroxy-bridged iron(II) ions. These are connected by bridging oxalates to form an anionic framework with large channels that contain the remaining barium, chloride and oxalate counter ions. Magnetisation studies on an oriented single crystal of 1 revealed a magnetic phase transition at 32 K and a strong easy-plane anisotropy at all temperatures. Above Tc the compound behaves as an S = 2XY antiferromagnetic chain, showing a broad maximum in the susceptibility at about 70 K. We determined the intrachain coupling J and the interchain coupling J' to be -7 cm(-1) and +0.4 cm(-1), respectively. The low-temperature phase is an ordered antiferromagnetic state. Zero- and longitudinal-field muon spin-rotation/relaxation studies support this interpretation; below Tc oscillations in the muon spin-autocorrelation function are observed giving unambiguous evidence for a non-zero sublattice magnetisation and proof of a long-range magnetically ordered state.     

Electron attachment to C(2)Cl(4) and Trojan horse ionization

In a recent study of tetrachloroethylene, the anion yield curves were analyzed using three published negative-ion Morse potentials. Unexpected ions at zero electron energy were explained by the "Trojan horse" mechanism. This communication also attributes formation of Cl(2)(-) at higher energies to a Trojan horse mechanism. Six new Morse potentials are calculated to account for the observed anion states. These combine all extant electron impact and attachment data. The electron affinity of the C(2)Cl(3) radical, 3.1(1) eV, and the C-Cl bond dissociation energy 4.0(1) eV are reported.     

Infrared spectra of chlorinated ethylene cations: C2Cl4+, C2HCl3+, 1,1-C2H2Cl2+, and trans-C2H2Cl2+ in solid argon

Infrared spectra of chlorinated ethylene cations: C2Cl4+, C2HCl3+, 1,1-C2H2Cl2+, and trans-C2H2Cl2+ isolated in solid argon are presented. These cations were produced by co-deposition of chlorinated ethylene/Ar mixtures with high-frequency-discharged Ar at 4 K. Photosensitive absorptions are assigned to different vibrational modes of the cations on the basis of observed chlorine isotopic shifts and quantum chemical frequency calculations. With the removal of one electron from the HOMO of chlorinated ethylene neutrals that is C=C bonding and C-Cl antibonding in character, the observed C-Cl stretching vibrational frequencies of the cations are blue-shifted relative to those of the chlorinated ethylene neutrals. The results also show that the cations can be regarded as "isolated" with the vibrational frequencies only slightly shifted when compared to the available gas-phase values.     

气相中二氯苯的双电荷离子[C6H4CI2]^2+和[C6H3CI]^2+的动能谱研究

本文利用质量分析离子动能(MIKES)和碰撞诱导解离(CID)技术, 研究了邻、间、对二氯苯分子在电子轰击质谱(EIMS)中产生的[C6H4CI2]^2+和[C6H4CI]^2+双电荷离子的单分子电荷分离(CS)反应。根据测定和CS反应的动能释放值T和由此估算的反应过渡态的电荷间距的最小值R, 推测过渡态的结构。有趣的是, 可以利用双电荷离子[C6H4CI2]^2+的分解反应区分二氯苯的位置异构体。     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of an ionic C60 complex with decamethylcobaltocene: (Cp*2Co)2C60(C6H4Cl2, C6H5CN)2. Singlet-triplet transitions in the C60(2-) anion

The C(60) complex with decamethylcobaltocene, (Cp(2)Co)(2)C(60)(C(6)H(4)Cl(2), C(6)H(5)CN)(2) (1) (C(6)H(4)Cl(2) = 1,2-dichlorobenzene; C(6)H(5)CN = benzonitrile), has been obtained as single crystals by the diffusion method. The IR and UV-vis-NIR spectra show the presence of the C(60)(2)(-) and the Cp(2)Co(+) ions, which form a three-dimensional framework with channels accommodating solvent molecules. EPR and SQUID measurements show that C(60)(2)(-) has a diamagnetic singlet (S = 0) state in the 2-140 K range. The appearance of a broad EPR signal and the increase in magnetic susceptibility of 1 above 140 K are assigned to a thermal population of a close lying triplet (S = 1) state. The singlet-triplet energy gap for C(60)(2)(-) in solid 1 is estimated to be 730+/-10 cm(-)(1).     

Temperature dependence of negative ion lifetimes

The autodetachment lifetimes of SF6-* and C6F6-* ions formed by charge transfer in K(np)/SF6, C6F6 collisions are measured as a function of target temperature over the range of approximately 300-600 K with the aid of time-of-flight techniques and a Penning ion trap. At room temperature only formation of long-lived SF6 -* ions with lifetimes tau >or similar to 1 ms is seen. As the temperature is increased the lifetime of these long-lived ions is reduced, some having lifetimes as short as approximately 0.4 ms. The appearance of a short-lived, tau 相似文献   

Hybrid organic-inorganic conductor with a magnetic chain anion: kappa-BETS2[Fe(III)(C2O4)Cl2] [BETS = bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene

The synthesis, crystal structure, and electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of kappa-BETS2[Fe(III)(C2O4)Cl2], where BETS is bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene, are reported. The black plate crystals consist of parallel donor layers, two per unit cell, displaying a kappa-type packing of BETS(0.5+) within the bc plane and anionic magnetic chains, [Fe(C2O4)Cl2-]n, running along the c axis. It displays metallic behavior down to 4.2 K, and analysis of the optical reflectivity data gives unscreened plasma energies of 0.69 eV (E parallel c) and 0.40 eV (E perpendicular c). The optical anisotropy is larger than that seen for other kappa phases and is described well by transfer integrals obtained from extended Hückel calculations. However, the transfer integrals need to be scaled down uniformly by a factor of 1.21 to reproduce the absolute experimental plasma frequencies. The band structure consists of a one-dimensional (1D) band and a hole pocket, characteristics of kappa phases. The magnetic properties were modeled by the sum of a 1D antiferromagnetic chain contribution from the d spins of Fe3+, a temperature-independent paramagnetic contribution, and a Curie impurity term. At 4.5 K, there is a signature of long-range magnetic ordering to a canted-antiferromagnetic state in the zero-field-cooled-field-cooled magnetizations, and at 2 K, a small hysteresis loop is observed.     

Products, rate constants and mechanisms of gas-phase reactions of CX(3)(+), CX(2)(+), CX(+) (X = F and/or Cl) and Cl(+) with 1,1,1- and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane.

The gas-phase ion chemistry of 1,1,1- and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane was investigated with an ion trap mass spectrometer. Following electron ionization both compounds (M) fragment to [M - Cl](+), CX(3)(+), CX(2)(+), CX(+) (X = F and/or Cl) and Cl(+). The reactivity of each of these fragments towards their neutral precursors was studied to obtain product and kinetic data. Whereas [M - Cl](+), CCl(3)(+) and CCl(2)F(+) cations are unreactive under the experimental conditions used, all other species react via halide abstraction to give [M - Cl](+) and, to a far lesser extent, [M - F](+). In addition, CX(2)(+) ions form CClX(2)(+) in a process which formally amounts to chlorine atom abstraction, but more likely involves chloride ion abstraction followed by charge transfer. CX(+) ions also form minor amounts of CX(3)(+) product ions, possibly via chloride abstraction followed by or concerted with dihalocarbene elimination from the (incipient) [M - Cl](+) ion. Trivalent carbenium ions are less reactive than divalent species, which in turn are less reactive than the monovalent ions (reaction efficiencies are given in parentheses): CF(3)(+)(0.70) < CF(2)(+)(0.78) < CF(+)(0.96). More interestingly, within each family of ions reactivity increases with the number of fluorine substituents (e.g. CF(2)(+) > CFCl(+) > CCl(2)(+) and CF(+) > CCl(+)), i.e. reactivity increases with the ion thermochemical stability, as measured by available standard free enthalpies of formation. Evaluation of the energetics involved shows that reactions are largely driven by the stability of the neutrals more than of the ions. Finally, the products observed in the reaction of Cl(+) are attributed to ionization of the neutral via charge transfer and fragmentation.     

Collisions of slow polyatomic ions with surfaces: dissociation and chemical reactions of C2H2+*, C2H3+, C2H4+*, C2H5+, and their deuterated variants C2D2+* and C2D4+* on room-temperature and heated carbon surfaces

Interaction of C2Hn+ (n = 2-5) hydrocarbon ions and some of their isotopic variants with room-temperature and heated (600 degrees C) highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces was investigated over the range of incident energies 11-46 eV and an incident angle of 60 degrees with respect to the surface normal. The work is an extension of our earlier research on surface interactions of CHn+ (n = 3-5) ions. Mass spectra, translational energy distributions, and angular distributions of product ions were measured. Collisions with the HOPG surface heated to 600 degrees C showed only partial or substantial dissociation of the projectile ions; translational energy distributions of the product ions peaked at about 50% of the incident energy. Interactions with the HOPG surface at room temperature showed both surface-induced dissociation of the projectiles and, in the case of radical cation projectiles C2H2+* and C2H4+*, chemical reactions with the hydrocarbons on the surface. These reactions were (i) H-atom transfer to the projectile, formation of protonated projectiles, and their subsequent fragmentation and (ii) formation of a carbon chain build-up product in reactions of the projectile ion with a terminal CH3-group of the surface hydrocarbons and subsequent fragmentation of the product ion to C3H3+. The product ions were formed in inelastic collisions in which the translational energy of the surface-excited projectile peaked at about 32% of the incident energy. Angular distributions of reaction products showed peaking at subspecular angles close to 68 degrees (heated surfaces) and 72 degrees (room-temperature surfaces). The absolute survival probability at the incident angle of 60 degrees was about 0.1% for C2H2+*, close to 1% for C2H4+* and C2H5+, and about 3-6% for C2H3+.     

Kinetics of electron-induced decomposition of CF2Cl2 coadsorbed with water (ice): a comparison with CCl4

The kinetics of decomposition and subsequent chemistry of adsorbed CF(2)Cl(2), activated by low-energy electron irradiation, have been examined and compared with CCl(4). These molecules have been adsorbed alone and coadsorbed with water ice films of different thicknesses on metal surfaces (Ru; Au) at low temperatures (25 K; 100 K). The studies have been performed with temperature programmed desorption (TPD), reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). TPD data reveal the efficient decomposition of both halocarbon molecules under electron bombardment, which proceeds via dissociative electron attachment (DEA) of low-energy secondary electrons. The rates of CF(2)Cl(2) and CCl(4) dissociation increase in an H(2)O (D(2)O) environment (2-3x), but the increase is smaller than that reported in recent literature. The highest initial cross sections for halocarbon decomposition coadsorbed with H(2)O, using 180 eV incident electrons, are measured (using TPD) to be 1.0+/-0.2 x 10(-15) cm(2) for CF(2)Cl(2) and 2.5+/-0.2 x 10(-15) cm(2) for CCl(4). RAIRS and XPS studies confirm the decomposition of halocarbon molecules codeposited with water molecules, and provide insights into the irradiation products. Electron-induced generation of Cl(-) and F(-) anions in the halocarbon/water films and production of H(3)O(+), CO(2), and intermediate compounds COF(2) (for CF(2)Cl(2)) and COCl(2), C(2)Cl(4) (for CCl(4)) under electron irradiation have been detected using XPS, TPD, and RAIRS. The products and the decomposition kinetics are similar to those observed in our recent experiments involving x-ray photons as the source of ionizing irradiation.     

Isomeric effects in the gas-phase reactions of dichloroethene, C2H2CL2, with a series of cations

A study of the reactions of a series of gas-phase cations (NH(4)(+), H(3)O(+), SF(3)(+), CF(3)(+), CF(+), SF(5)(+), SF(2)(+), SF(+), CF(2)(+), SF(4)(+), O(2)(+), Xe(+), N(2)O(+), CO(2)(+), Kr(+), CO(+), N(+), N(2)(+), Ar(+), F(+), and Ne(+)) with the three structural isomers of dichloroethene, i.e., 1,1-C(2)H(2)Cl(2), cis-1,2-C(2)H(2)Cl(2), and trans-1,2-C(2)H(2)Cl(2) is reported. The recombination energy (RE) of these ions spans the range of 4.7-21.6 eV. Reaction rate coefficients and product branching ratios have been measured at 298 K in a selected ion flow tube (SIFT). Collisional rate coefficients are calculated by modified average dipole orientation (MADO) theory and compared with experimental data. Thermochemistry and mass balance have been used to predict the most feasible neutral products. Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectra have also been obtained for the three isomers of C(2)H(2)Cl(2) with photon energies in the range of 10-23 eV. The fragment ion branching ratios have been compared with those of the flow tube study to determine the importance of long-range charge transfer. A strong influence of the isomeric structure of dichloroethene on the products of ion-molecule reactions has been observed for H(3)O(+), CF(3)(+), and CF(+). For 1,1-C(2)H(2)Cl(2) the reaction with H(3)O(+) proceeds at the collisional rate with the only ionic product being 1,1-C(2)H(2)Cl(2)H(+). However, the same reaction yields two more ionic products in the case of cis-1,2- and trans-1,2-C(2)H(2)Cl(2), but only proceeds with 14% and 18% efficiency, respectively. The CF(3)(+) reaction proceeds with 56-80% efficiency, the only ionic product for 1,1-C(2)H(2)Cl(2) being C(2)H(2)Cl(+) formed via Cl(-) abstraction, whereas the only ionic product for both 1,2-isomers is CHCl(2)(+) corresponding to a breaking of the C=C double bond. Less profound isomeric effects, but still resulting in different products for 1,1- and 1,2-C(2)H(2)Cl(2) isomers, have been found in the reactions of SF(+), CO(2)(+), CO(+), N(2)(+), and Ar(+). Although these five ions have REs above the ionization energy (IE) of any of the C(2)H(2)Cl(2) isomers, and hence the threshold for long-range charge transfer, the results suggest that the formation of a collision complex at short range between these ions and C(2)H(2)Cl(2) is responsible for the observed effects.     

Syntheses and Characterizations of (4-NH2C6H4S)4Sn and [(4-NH2C6H4S)2(4-NH3C6H4S)2Sn]Cl2

1INTRODUCTIONInrecentyears,theresearchesontinsulfidemateri-alshavedrawnchemists’attentionowningtotheirpo-tentialapplicationsasphotovoltaicmaterials,hologra-phicrecordingsystem[1,,solarcontroldevices[3]and2]semiconductormaterials.Ageneralmethodtopreparetinsulfidesisthechemicalvapourdepositionfromdi-scretesimpletin-sulfidecomplexes,suchas(PhS)4Sn,Sn(SCy)4and[CF3(CF2)5S]4Sn[4].Duringoureffortinsynthesizingtin-sulphurcomplexes[5],weobtainedtwomononucleartincomplexes,(4-NH2C6H4S)4Sn1an…     

Homobinuclear cyanide-bridged linkage isomers containing the redox-active unit [(micro-XY)Ru(CO)2L(o-O2C6Cl4)] (XY=CN or NC)

The salts [NEt4][Ru(CN)(CO)2L(o-O2C6Cl4)] {L=PPh3 or P(OPh)3}, which undergo one-electron oxidation at the catecholate ligand to give neutral semiquinone complexes [Ru(CN)(CO)2L(o-O2C6Cl4)], react with the dimers [{Ru(CO)2L(micro-o-O2C6Cl4)}2] {L=PPh3 or P(OPh)3} to give [NEt4][(o-O2C6Cl4)L(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2L'(o-O2C6Cl4)] {L or L'=PPh3 or P(OPh)3}. The cyanide-bridged binuclear anions are, in turn, reversibly oxidised to isolable neutral and cationic complexes [(o-O2C6Cl4)L(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2L'(o-O2C6Cl4)] and [(o-O2C6Cl4)L(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2L'(o-O2C6Cl4)]+ which contain one and two semiquinone ligands respectively. Structural studies on the redox pair [(o-O2C6Cl4)(Ph3P)(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2(PPh3)(o-O2C6Cl4)]- and [(o-O2C6Cl4)(Ph3P)(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2(PPh3)(o-O2C6Cl4)] confirm that the C-bound Ru(CO)2(o-O2C6Cl4) fragment is oxidised first. Uniquely, [(o-O2C6Cl4){(PhO)3P}(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2(PPh3)(o-O2C6Cl4)]- is oxidised first at the N-bound fragment, indicating that it is possible to control the site of electron transfer by tuning the co-ligands. Crystallisation of [(o-O2C6Cl4)(Ph3P)(OC)2Ru(micro-CN)Ru(CO)2{P(OPh)3}(o-O2C6Cl4)] resulted in the formation of an isomer in which the P(OPh)3 ligand is cis to the cyanide bridge, contrasting with the trans arrangement of the X-Ru-L fragment in all other complexes of the type RuX(CO)2L(o-O2C6Cl4).     

Dissociation dynamics of positive-ion and negative-ion fragments of gaseous and condensed Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2) via Si 2p, Cl 2p, and Cl 1s core-level excitations

The state-selective positive-ion and negative-ion dissociation pathways of gaseous and condensed Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2) following Cl 2p, Cl 1s, and Si 2p core-level excitations have been characterized. The excitations to a specific antibonding state (15a(1) (*) state) of gaseous Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2) at the Cl 2p, Cl 1s, and Si 2p edges produce significant enhancement of fragment ions. This ion enhancement at specific core-excited states correlates closely with the ion kinetic energy distribution. The results deduced from ion kinetic energy distribution are consistent with results of quantum-chemical calculations on Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2) using the ADF package. The Cl(-) desorption yields for Si(CH(3))(2)Cl(2)Si(100) at approximately 90 K are notably enhanced at the 15a(1) (*) resonance at both Cl 2p and Si 2p edges. The resonant enhancement of Cl(-) yield occurs through the formation of highly excited states of the adsorbed molecules. These results provide insight into the state-selective ionic fragmentation of molecules via core-level excitation.     

Electronic absorption spectra of C3Cl, C4Cl, and their ions in neon matrices

Electronic absorption spectra of C3Cl, C3Cl+, C3Cl-, C4Cl, and C4Cl+ have been recorded in 6 K neon matrices following mass selection. Ab initio calculations were performed (CCSD(T) and CASSCF) to identify the ground and accessible excited states of each molecule. The estimated excitation energies and transition moments aid the assignment. The absorptions observed for C3Cl are the 5(2)A' <-- X(2)A' and 3(2)A' <-- X(2)A' transitions of the bent isomer and the (2)A1 <-- X(2)B2 transition of the cyclic form in the UV (336.1 nm), visible (428.7 nm), and near-IR (1047 nm) regions, respectively. The band systems for bent C3Cl- (435.2 nm) and linear C3Cl+ (413.2 nm) are both in the visible region and correspond to 2(1)A' <-- X(1)A' and (1)pi <-- X(1)sigma+ type transitions. The C4Cl and C4Cl+ chains are linear, and the band origins of the 2(2)pi <-- X(2)pi and 2(3)pi <-- X(3)pi electronic transitions are at 427.0 and 405.7 nm. The spectral assignments are supported by analysis of the vibrational structure associated with each electronic transition.     

Successive removal of chloride ions from organic polychloride pollutants. Mechanisms of reductive electrochemical elimination in aliphatic gem-polychlorides,alpha,beta-polychloroalkenes,and alpha,beta-polychloroalkanes in mildly protic medium

The factors that control the successive reductive expulsion of chloride ions from aliphatic gem-polychlorides are investigated, taking as examples the electrochemical reduction of polychloromethanes and polychloroacetonitriles in N,N-dimethylformamide. At each elimination stage, the reaction involves, as a rate-determining step, the transfer of one electron concerted with the cleavage of the carbon-chloride bond. The second step is an immediate electron transfer to the ensuing radical, taking place at a potential more positive than the potential at which the first electron transfer occurs. The carbanion thus formed is sufficiently basic to be protonated by any trace weak acid present in the reaction medium. The three successive elimination steps require increasingly negative potentials. Application of the "sticky" dissociative electron transfer model allows one to quantitatively unravel the factors that control the energetics of the successive reductive expulsion of chloride ions. The large potential gaps between each stage stem primarily from large differences in the dissociative standard potentials. They are also strongly affected by two cumulative intrinsic activation barrier factors, namely, the bond dissociation energy of the substrate that decreases with the number of chlorine atoms and the interaction between chloride ion and the radical that increases in the same direction. In the case of alpha,beta-polychloroethanes (Cl(3)C-CCl(3), Cl(2)HC-CCl(3), Cl(2)HC-CHCl(2), ClH(2)C-CHCl(2)) too, the first step is a dissociative electron transfer with sizable ion-radical interactions in the product cluster. Likewise, a second electron transfer immediately leads to the carbanion, which however prefers to expel a second chloride ion, leading to the corresponding olefin, than to be protonated to the hydrogenolysis product. The ion-radical interaction in the product cluster plays a major role in the control of the reduction potential. The reduction of the alpha,beta-polychloroethenes (Cl(2)C=CCl(2), ClHC=CCl(2), ClHC=CHCl) follows a similar 2e(-)-2Cl(-) reaction sequence, leading then to the corresponding alkynes. However, unlike the polychloroethane case, the expulsion of the first chloride ion follows a stepwise electron transfer/bond cleavage mechanism. The reduction potential is thus essentially governed by the thermodynamics of the anion radical formation.