Neutral and Ionic Metal-Hydrogen and Metal-Carbon Bond Energies: Reactions of Co+, Ni+, and Cu+ with Ethane, Propane, Methylpropane, and Dimethylpropane

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00194a016

The reactions of Co⁺, Ni⁺, and Cu⁺ with a series of alkanes are examined by guided ion beam mass spectrometry.The emphasis of this study is on C-H and C-C bond cleavage channels from which bond dissociation energies for M-H, M-CH3, and M⁺-CH3 are derived from the endothermic reaction thresholds.For these three bond energies, we find values (in kilocalories per mole) of 46+/-3, 46+/-3, and 49.1+/-3.5, respectively, for M=Co; 58+/-3, 55+/-3, and 45.0+/-2.4, respectively, for M=Ni; 61+/-4, 58+/-2, 29.7+/-1.7, respectively, for M=Cu.Trends in the thermochemistryof these species and M⁺-H are briefly discussed.The reactivity of Cu⁺, which has not been previously studied, is compared with that for other transition-metal ions.Also, unusual features in the reactivity of Co⁺ and Ni⁺ that have not previously been commented on are discussed.