Bond-forming and electron transfer reactions following collisions of CF(2)(2+) with H(2)X (X = O, S)

The ionic products of the electron transfer and chemical reactions which occur following collisions of CF(2)(2+) with H(2)X(X = O, S) have been identified by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The integral reaction cross sections, in arbitrary units, for forming the CF(+) and CF(2)(+) ions which are products of electron transfer reactions and the XCF(+) products of the chemical reactions, have been determined. In collisions of CF(2)(2+) with H(2)O the electron transfer reactions favour the formation of H(2)O(+), together with approximately equal amounts of CF(+) and CF(2)(+). Electron transfer reactions between CF(2)(2+) and H(2)S, on the other hand, favour the formation of H(2)S(+) together with CF(+), with CF(2)(+) and C(+) generated in significantly smaller quantities. A Landau Zener model has been employed to account for the relative abundances of the product ions from electron transfer. The chemical reaction forming OCF(+) from collisions between CF(2)(2+) and H(2)O is distinctly more probable than the formation of SCF(+) from collisions with H(2)S. The partner ion formed together with the XCF(+) ion in both chemical channels appears to be H(+). Such significant rearrangement in the atomic connectivity between reactants and products is strongly indicative of a mechanism involving a collision complex.