Ion-molecule reation studies of vinyl chloride homocluster and vinyl chloride-methanol heterocluster

Abstract

The intracluster ion-molecule reactions are studied using electron impact time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Vinyl chloride homocluster and vinyl chloride-methanol heterocluster are produced from supersonic expansion. Experiments are performed at different mixing ratios and different electron impact energy. The precursor ions, $C_2H_3Cl^+$ and $C_2H_3^+$, within vinyl chloride cluster undergo ion-molecule condensation reactions with neighboring $C_2H_3Cl$ molecules in the cluster with subsequent elimination of neutral species. Intensity distribution of $(C_2H_3Cl)_n^+$ ion shows a magic number of n=3. As the mixing ratio of vinyl chloride and methanol is decreased, the intensities of $(C_2H_3Cl)_n^+$ ion are decreased. $(C_2H_3Cl)(CH_3OH)_2^+$ ion is found to be a stable form of vinyl chloride-methanol mixed cluster.