Chemical reactivity of [(NO)(n)(ROH)(m)](+) cluster ions

Mixed clusters of nitric oxide and various alcohols (ethanol, n-propanol, 2 -propanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butyl alcohol) were generated via a continuous molecular beam expansion and analyzed using an electron impac t tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The unique chemistry of the [ (NO)(n)(ROH)(m)](+) cluster ions was investigated employing collision induc ed dissociation (CID). Formation of product cluster ions containing alkyl n itrites [(NO)(n)(RONO)](+) and the subsequent loss of neutral HNO (when n = 1) are the most prominent features of this chemistry.