Interconversion of boron hydrides. Part 1. Thermolysis of individual boranes

Abstract

Low-resolution mass spectra of B₂H₆, B₄H₁₀, B₅H₉, B₅H₁₁, B₆H₁₀, B₆H₁₂, B₈H₁₂, B₉H₁₅, and B₁₀H₁₄ have been recorded on a conventional spectrometer with ion-source temperatures in the range 50–60 °C. The spectra are compared with those from a molecular-beam sampling mass spectrometer. Data for ion current versus pressure at each unit mass have been recorded for the various boranes and argon, and a method developed for the continuous quantitative analysis of mixtures of boranes in the gas phase. The products of thermolyses of B₂H₆ at 100 and 120 °C and of B₄H₁₀, B₅H₉, B₅H₁₁, B₆H₁₀, and B₆H₁₂ at 75 °C have been examined as a function of time and compared with earlier results where available.