title: Methane activation by metal-free radical cations: experimental insight into the reaction intermediate.
abstract: A precise jab to methane: The SO(2)(*+) radical cation (see figure) effectively activates CH(4) at room temperature through a [H(3)C(*)...HOSO(+)] methyl intermediate isolated in the gas phase by mass spectrometry. Methanol and ionized methyl hydrogen sulfoxylate, CH(3)OSOH(*+), are formed by selective, direct attack of the incipient methyl radical at the O atom of the intermediate. The reaction shows radical and charge effects in the activation of methane by metal-free radical cations.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Università La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy. giulia.depetris@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Petris
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troiani
authors.forename: Marzio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosi
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ursini
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000737:chemistry*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; D008697:Methane