Probing the structure and reactivity of gaseous ions.

Abstract

Studying ions in the gas phase provides the opportunity to observe their intrinsic structure and reactivity without extraneous perturbations such as solvent effects, aggregation or counterion interactions. This work utilizes various experimental techniques including ion-molecule reactions and IR-action spectroscopy inside an ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, in combination with computational studies, to probe both structures and thermochemical properties. Systems and chemical problems addressed herein include the conjugate bases of carborane superacids, thermodynamic properties of ClOx and HClOx, lithium acetate enolateanion, lithium acetylide anion, and the development of IR-action spectroscopy at Minnesota.