Isomers of C2H4N+ and the Proton Affinities of CH3CN and CH3NC

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00267a007

The relative proton affinities of CH3CN (acetonitrile) and CH3NC (methyl isocyanide were determined by using the Selected Ion Flow Tube technique.Two distinct species were observed for the C2H4N⁺ ion: one produced from CH3CN and one from CH3NC.The two C2H4N⁺ isomers were readily distinguished in the flow tube by their different reactivity.The association product, C2H4N⁺, of the ion-molecule reaction between CH3⁺ and HCN was shown to be present in both isomeric forms in the ratio 85percent protonated acetonitrile and 15percent protonated methyl isocyanide.