Mass spectrometric investigation of the ionic polymerization in gaseous ethylenimine

Abstract

The ionic reactions leading to the initial steps in the polymerization of light, and N-deuteratede-thylenimine have been investigated in the β-ray ion source of a high-pressure mass spectrometer. Polymeric ions up to the sixth steps have been identified. Proton transfer reactions between H⁺₃ NH⁺₄, CH⁺₅, C₂H⁺₅ and ethylenimine have also been studied. The results confirm that the protonated ethylenimine is the initiator of the polymeric chain.