Ion chemistries in triethylborane

Abstract

The absolute total and partial cross sections of electron ionization on triethylborane (TEB) are measured in an electron energy range of 6.6–200eV. The total cross section reaches a maximum of 2.2×10−15cm2 in 65–85eV energy region. Product ions from the electron ionization include C2H2–5+, BCH4+, BC2H2,4,6+, BC3H4,6+, BC4H8,10+ and BC6H15+, among which BC6H15+, BC4H10+ and BC2H6+ are the most abundant ions. Gas-phase reactions between TEB and certain major ions from the electron ionization of TEB are studied. Common products from the ion-molecule reactions are BC4H10+ and BC2H6+, as well as association products for certain heavy-ion reactions. The mechanisms of forming BC4H10+ and BC2H6+ in ion-molecule reactions are believed to be simple ethide transfer and ethide transfer followed by dissociation (loss of C2H4), respectively.