Transition-Metal Cation Chemistry in 1 Torr of He: M+ + C2H6 Reaction Rates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100402a010

We have used laser vaporization of solid metal targets to create first transition series gas-phase metal cations M⁺ in a fast flow reactor with 1 Torr of He buffer gas.In contrast with single-collision results, all ten first transition series M⁺ ions, Sc⁺ through Zn⁺, react with C2H6 in our multicollision experiment.The major primary product is usually the adduct ion MC2H6⁺ arising from third-body collisional stabilization of long-lived intermediates.The primary reaction rates vary a factor of 250 across the series.M⁺ ions having ground-state or low-energy 3dⁿ electron configurations react the fastest with alkanes in 1 Torr of He.