Gas-phase clustering reactions of CN − and CH 2CN − with CH 3CN

Abstract

The gas-phase clustering reactions, CN − + CH 3CN ⇌ CN − (CH 3CN) and CH 2CN − + CH 3CN ⇌ CH 2CN −(CH 3CN) are studied using a pulsed electron-beam high-pressure mass spectrometer. The thermochemical data Δ H 0 (Δ S 0) for these reactions obtained from the van 't Hoff plots are −15.7 kcal/mol (−21.7 eu) and − 15.7 kcal/mol (−22.8 eu), respectively. The structures of the clusters CN −(CH 3CN) and CH 2CN −(CH 3CN) are determined by an ab initio MO calculation. The organic reactions, S N2 (NC − + CH 3CN → NCCH 3 + CN −) and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CH 2CN − + CH 3CN → adduct), are not observed.