Delayed predissociation and collision-induced processes of the ammonia di-cation NH32+

Reactions of NH₃²⁺ di-cations, observed a few microseconds after formation by electron ionisation of ammonia, have been studied in a double-focusing mass spectrometer using techniques of ion translational energy spectroscopy. Fragmentation reactions occuring under unimolecular conditions correspond to predissociation processes, but lack of knowledge about states of NH₃²⁺ precludes any definitive interpretation. A partial tentative interpretation, using arguments by analogy with isoelectronic neutral species, is proposed. Almost all collision-induced fragmentations required electron transfer forming NH₃⁺ as an intermediate step, so the non-dissociative electron transfer processes were also studied. The most unexpected collision-induced fragmentation reaction was that which formed H₃⁺ fragment ions.