THE REACTION OF GERMYL IONS WITH ETHYLENE

The reactions of [GeH3]+ ions with C2H4 and C2D4 have been studied in a tandem mass spectrometer over a pressure range of 1-20 millitorr and over an energy range of 1-9 eV (LAB). The predominant reaction of an initial [GeC2H7]+ collision complex is back-reaction to reactants. How ever, stabilized adduct ions [GeC2H7]+ and their daughter decompositio n products [GeC2H5]+ are observed in increasing amounts as the pressur e of C2H4 is increased. It is proposed that the structures of these pr oduct ions are [CH3CH2GeH2]+ and [CH2=CHGeH2]+, respectively. The hydr ocarbon ions [C2H5]+ and [C2H3]+ are observed as products of endotherm ic reactions of ground electronic state [GeH3]+ ions with C2H4; these same ions along with [C2H4]+ and [C2H2]+ are observed as products of e xothermic reactions of an electronically excited state of [GeH3]+ pres ent in the ion beam.