Gas phase ion/molecule reactions in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer have been carried out for reductions of isotopically labelled citraconic (methylmaleic), phenylmaleic, and ethoxymaleic anhydrides by BH4−. In citraconic anhydride the carbonyl group neighbouring the methyl substituent is reduced preferentially in agreement with the ab initio calculations, which show the higher LUMO coefficients at this site. Hydride ion transfer to the olefinic double bond occurs as well; however, in that case no preference for either of the carbon atoms is observed. In phenylmaleic anhydride strong indications are found for a theoretically unexpected hydride ion transfer to the phenyl ring. For ethoxymaleic anhydride experimental evidence is presented showing hydride ion transfer to the carbon atom carrying the ethoxy group, which is in agreement with the "best overlap" consideration predicting that this carbon atom bears the highest LUMO coefficient.Most of the hydride transfers from BH4− to the molecules studied seem, therefore, to take place under orbital control rather than under control of long-range ion-induced dipole interactions between reactants.
Infrared gas phase study on plasma-polymer interactions in high-current diffuse dielectric barrier discharge
