ELECTRON-IMPACT IONIZATION MASS SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF ACETYLENE AND MIXED ACETYLENE-AMMONIA CLUSTERS AS A STRUCTURE PROBE

Abstract

Ion-molecule reactions of acetylene and mixed acetylene-ammonia cluster ions are studied using an electron impact time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The present results clearly demonstrate that (C2H2)n+ cluster ion distribution represents a distinct magic number of n = 3. The mass spectroscopic evidence for the enhanced structural stabilities Of [C6H4.(NH3)m]+ (m = 0-8) ions is also found along with the detection of mixed cluster E(C2H2)n.(NH2)m]+ ions, which gives insight into the feasible structure of solvated ions. This is rationalized on the basis of the structural stability for acetylene clusters and the dissociation dynamics of the complex ion under the presence of solvent molecules.