Relative Electron Affinities of Substituted Nitrobenzenes in the Gas Phase

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100239a002

Using pulsed ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, we have determined the relative electron affinities of 12 substituted nitrobenzenes in the gas phase by measuring equilibrium constants for electron transfer reactions of the type C6H5NO2^- + X-C6H4NO2 = X-C6H4NO2^- + C6H5NO2, where X is a substituent group.An excellent correlation is found between the relative electron affinities of the substituted nitrobenzenes and the relative gas-phase acidities of substituted anilines and phenols.