Sequential activation of methane by Ir+: An IRMPD and theoretical investigation

Abstract

The sequential activation of up to 4 CH4 molecules by Ir+ is investigated through a gas-phase infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) experiment and theoretical calculations. A molecular beam apparatus was used to generate Ir+ by laser ablation and expose it to controlled amounts of CH4. Product ions were irradiated with IR light from a free electron laser over the 500–1800 cm−1 spectral range and photodissociation was monitored using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Experimental spectra were obtained for five distinct species: [Ir,3C,8 H]+, [Ir,3C,10 H]+, [Ir,4C,10 H]+, [Ir,4C,12 H]+, and [Ir,O,3C,12 H]+. To identify these species, B3LYP/def2-TZVPPD geometry optimizations were performed on a variety of possible structures, with computed IR spectra compared to the experimental IRMPD spectra. This has led to the following assignments: [Ir,3C,8 H]+ = IrCH2(CH3)2+, [Ir,3C,10 H]+ = HIr(CH3)3+, [Ir,4C,10 H]+ = Ir(CH3)2(C2H4)+, [Ir,4C,12 H]+ = a mixture of HIr(CH3)(C2H4)+(CH4), HIr(CH3)2(C2H5)+, Ir(CH3)4+, and (H2)Ir(CH3)2(C2H4)+, and [Ir,O,3C,12 H]+ = (H2O)HIr(CH3)3+. Notably, evidence for CC coupling is observed upon reaction with a fourth methane. Mechanisms for the formation of the observed products were also explored computationally by examining the reaction coordinate pathways for the reactions of methane with HIrCH+, IrCH2+, Ir(CH3)2+, HIrCH2(CH3)+, HIr(CH3)3+, and IrCH2(CH3)2+.