FIRST EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF AMINOCARBENE

Neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry is used to synthesize an d identify in the gas phase the elusive aminocarbene, namely H-C-NH2. The carbene is prepared by reduction of the corresponding radical cati on, generated by electron ionization of cyclopropyl amine. The mass sp ectrum obtained after subsequent reionization, about 0.2 mu s later, c onfirms theoretical predictions that solitary aminocarbene is a stable species with appreciable barriers towards dissociation and isomerizat ion to formaldimine, H2C=NH. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.