Metastable ion studies of various C3H6 radical cations

Abstract

AbstractMetastable abundance ratios have been measured involving four decomposition reactions of C3H6 radical cations formed from a variety of precursors. The ratios are quite similar in accord with extensive isomerization to a propene structure prior to fragmentation. Small, yet constant differences are observed for those C3H6 ions which have been shown to be formed as cyclic ions by ion cyclotron resonance studies. The differences are interpreted to reflect internal energy variations, which result because the initially formed ions have two different structures. The abundance ratios are shown to depend on ionizing energy, repeller voltage and accelerating voltage, but are independent of the degrees‐of‐freedom in the precursor as well as the number of steps necessary to produce the [C3H6]+· Despite small variations in metastable ratios, the classification of various [C3H6]+· ions can be achieved under a variety of conditions which affect the internal energy of the decomposing ions.