How is the Fluoride Ion Bound to O2, N2, and CO Molecules?

Abstract

Fundamental gas-phase clustering reactions for F-(Sol)n-1 + Sol = F-(Sol)n for Sol = O2, N2, and CO were studied by using a pulsed electron beam mass spectrometer. While the interaction of F- with O2 ligands is mainly electrostatic, those with N2 and CO have some contribution from charge transfer (i.e., the formation of incipient covalent bonds in the complexes F- → N2 and F- → CO). The cluster ion F-(CO)6 was found to have an octahedral structure with equivalent F-···CO bonds. F-(O2)n was found to involve the smallest binding energy among F- cluster ions ever reported.