GAS-PHASE SYNTHESIS AND REACTIONS OF COMPLEXES OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATICS WITH METALLIC POSITIVE-IONS

Complexes formed from singly positively charged metal ions (M = Al+, C r+, Fe+, Ni+, Cu+, Zr+, Mo+,Ta+, Pt+, Au+, U+) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. pyrene (Py)) and their aza-analogs (e.g. 9-azaphen anthrene (Ap)) as neutral ligands in a laser desorption/ionization Fou rier-transform mass spectrometry experiment are measured immediately a nd over some time period after each laser shot. If both types of ligan ds or two or more types of metal ions are present their competition in the formation of compounds with mixed ligands for different metals is observed. The reactions of a Fe+, Cr+ and Ni+ mixture with a Py and A p mixture are given as examples. The relative half-lives for some of t he observed ionic species were determined assuming steady state concen tration of the neutral reactants during the experiment. (C) 1997 by Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Ltd.