Electron Transfer and Other Reactions Using Atomic Metal Anions

Abstract

The atomic metal anions Rb-, Cs-, Cu-, Ag- and Fe- have been generated in the gas phase and reacted with various neutral reactants in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The metal anions were formed via electrospray ionization of the metal-oxalate solutions and form in gas phase between the capillary and the first quadrupole. Neutral gas phase reactants investigated include NO, NO2, SO2, C6F5OH, C6F5NH2, C6F6, E-octafluoro-butene and 1,2,3/1,2,4/1,3,5 trifluoro-benzene. When possible, CBS-4M methods were used to suggest the lowest energy products based on relative energy. Observed reactions of atomic metal anions with the aforementioned neutral species include electron transfer and dissociative electron transfer to the neutral gas phase reactants. In addition, hydrogen abstraction and fluorine abstraction forming a neutral metal hydride or fluoride as well as the formation of multiply substituted metal-oxide/fluoride anions was also observed. Metal-complex anions observed from the gas phase reactions include CuF-,CuF2-,CuO-,CuO2-, FeO-, FeO2-, FeO3-, FeF-, FeF2-, FeF3-, CsF- and CsF2-.