Mass Spectrometric Observation of Persistent lon-Molecule Complexes of Acrylonitrile and of Benzene

Abstract

Two persistent collision complexes between an ion and a neutral molecule have been observed in a mass spectrometer. C₆H₆N₂ ⁺ (primary ion C₃H₃N⁺) is formed in acrylonitrile, C₁₂H₁₁ ⁺ (primary ion C₆H₃ ⁺) in benzene. The formation of both complexes very strongly decreases with increasing kinetic energy of the ions. This is explained by the decrease in lifetime due to the increased internal energy of the activated complexes. Some decomposition products of the complexes have also been observed. The results are compared to POTTIE and HAMILL′S theory of complex formation.