Isotope exchange in ionised CO2/CO mixtures: the role of asymmetrical C2O3+ ions.
A hitherto unknown, atmospherically relevant, isotope-exchange reaction was studied in ionised gaseous mixtures containing carbon dioxide and monoxide. The mechanism of the O exchange, proceeding over a double-minimum potential-energy surface, was positively established by mass spectrometric and theoretical methods that also allowed the identification and characterisation of the C2O3+ intermediate. The increase of internal energy displaces the observed reactivity towards an endothermic reaction path that involves only CO2 and represents an indirect route to the dissociation of carbon dioxide.
de Petris
Giulia
G
Dipartimento di Studi di Chimica e Tecnologia delle Sostanze, Biologicamente Attive, Università La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. giulia.depetris@uniroma1.it
Cartoni
Antonella
A
Rosi
Marzio
M
Troiani
Anna
A
Angelini
Giancarlo
G
Ursini
Ornella
O