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.