Ion-molecule reaction of alkanenitriles and transition-metal ions in the gas phase: A study on fragmentation mechanism of the adducts.
Gas-phase ion-molecule reactions between transition-metal ions (Mn +, Fe+, Co+, Ni +) and propionitri1e and acetonitrile were investigated. Ion-molecule adducts were prepared in a modified fast atom bombardment source and their metastable and collision-induced fragmentations, occurring in the frrst held-free region of an E/B configuration instrument, were studied by means of B/E linked scans. The experimental data suggest a coexistence of both "end-on" and "side-on" coordination modes; the former undergoes ligand detachment alone, whereas the latter loses methyl and ethyl radicals by insertion of M+ into organic substrates and further produces ethylene via a l3-hydrogen transfer. An order for the bonding energy of RCN-M+ is also suggested: RCN-Ni+> RCN-Co+> RCN-Fe+> RCNMn+.
Department of Chemistry, Brock University, L2S 3A1, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
L Z
LZ
Chen
J M
JM
Miller