Ion Molecule Reactions between Ligated Transition Metal Cations with Methane, Ethane and Propane in a High Pressure Ion Source

Abstract

The reactions of CH4, C2H6 and C3H8 with [η5-C5H5M(CO) n]+ (M = Fe, Co and Ni; 0 ≤ n ≤ 2) in the gas phase have been studied using a double focusing mass spectrometer with a high pressure ion source (HPIS). The products observed are mainly described as weakly bound ion molecule complexes. Carbon–hydrogen bond insertions were observed with propane and only to a minor extent with ethane. Methane was found to form ion molecule complexes only with ligated transition metal cations. The reactivity was influenced by the number of carbonyl ligands and the metal cations. The main adducts formed were obtained when one or no CO ligands were bound to the cyclopentadienyl metal cation. No adducts between the alkanes and naked transition metal cations or protonated metal compounds were found.