title: Production and collision-induced dissociation of gas-phase, water- and alcohol-coordinated uranyl complexes containing halide or perchlorate anions.
abstract: Electrospray ionization was used to generate mono-positive gas-phase complexes of the general formula [UO2A(S)n]+ where A = OH, Cl, Br, I or ClO4, S = H2O, CH3OH or CH3CH2OH, and n = 1-3. The multiple-stage dissociation pathways of the complexes were then studied using ion-trap mass spectrometry. For H2O-coordinated cations, the dissociation reactions observed included the elimination of H2O ligands and the loss of HA (where A = Cl, Br or I). Only for the Br and ClO4 versions did collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the hydrated species generate the bare, uranyl-anion complexes. CID of the chloride and iodide versions led instead to the production of uranyl hydroxide and hydrated UO2+. Replacement of H2O ligands by alcohol increased the tendency to eliminate HA, consistent with the higher intrinsic acidity of the alcohols compared to water and potentially stronger UO2-O interactions within the alkoxide complexes compared to the hydroxide version.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260-0051, USA.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anbalagan
authors.forename: Winnie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Garold L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gresham
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Groenewold
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Van Stipdonk