Gas phase electron attachment reactions with organometallic compounds; molecular anion formation and negative ion mass spectra of a series of η4-dienetricarbonyliron compounds

Abstract

Electron attachment by secondary electron capture in the gas phase with a series of conjugated η⁴-dienetricarbonyliron compounds yields molecular anions which decompose by CO and diene eliminations; however, η⁴-cyclobutadienetricarbonyliron, which under-goes dissociative electron capture to give the [M– CO][graphic omitted] ion at the highest m/e in its negative ion mass spectrum, decomposes only by elimination of CO ligands.