title: Gas-phase uranyl-nitrile complex ions.
abstract: Electrospray ionization was used to generate doubly charged complex ions composed of the uranyl ion and nitrile ligands. The complexes, with general formula [UO2(RCN)n]2+, n = 0-5 (where R=CH3-, CH3CH2-, or C6H5-), were isolated in an ion-trap mass spectrometer to probe intrinsic reactions with H2O. For these complexes, two general reaction pathways were observed: (a) the direct addition of one or more H2O ligands to the doubly charged complexes and (b) charge-reduction reactions. For the latter, the reactions produced uranyl hydroxide, [UO2OH], complexes via collisions with gas-phase H2O molecules and the elimination of protonated nitrile ligands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260-0051, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Van Stipdonk
authors.forename: Winnie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Kellis
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bulleigh
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Groenewold