Reactivities of tantalum oxide cluster cations with unsaturated hydrocarbons

The reactivities of tantalum oxide cluster cations with unsaturated hydroca rbons have been probed using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled with a laser vaporization source. The reaction pathways observed for the ta ntalum oxide clusters with 1,3-butadiene (C4H6), 1-butene (C4H8), and (D6)b enzene (C6D6) include association, atomic and molecular oxygen loss, cracki ng, minor dehydration, and possible dehydrogenation with the reactivities o f different clusters varying from species to species. In the case of 1,3-bu tadiene, the major reaction product involves cracking of the C2-C3 bond to give TaxOy+(C2H4) reaction channels. The major reaction of tantalum oxide c lusters with l-butene is again cracking of the C2-C3 bond to give TaxOy+(C2 H4) reaction products. Lastly, cracking of the stable benzene ring to give TaxOy+(C4D4) is the major reaction pathway for tantalum oxide clusters inte racting with (D6) benzene. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.