Anions in Space and in the Laboratory

The astronomical detection of molecular anions has prompted our study of their chemical reactions with atomic species that are abundant in the interstellar medium. We have recently explored the chemistry of a variety of CxNy- anions with hydrogen atoms and determined their reaction rate constants and products using the flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube technique. Computational studies allow characterization of the structures of reactants and products, as well as the energetics along the reaction pathway. For anions containing one or two nitrogen atoms, reactions with hydrogen atoms are facile, and proceed primarily by associative detachment. in contrast, anions containing three nitrogen atoms are unreactive with hydrogen atoms due to reaction barriers and unfavorable thermodynamics.