20561-66-4Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Gas-phase reactions of tantalum carbide cluster ions with deuterium and small hydrocarbons
Cassady, Carolyn J.,McElvany, Stephen W.
, p. 4788 - 4797 (1990)
The gas-phase ion/molecule reactions of tantalum carbide cluster ions (TaCy+, y = 0-14) with D2, CH4, C2H4, and C2H6 have been investigated by Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Product branching ratios and reaction rate constants are reported. The addition of tantalum dramatically alters the reactivity relative to that of the corresponding carbon clusters (Cy+), leading to the conclusion that the TaCy+ reactions are initiated on the metal. In addition, the extensive dehydrogenation and secondary reactivity that characterize the reactions of Ta+ with hydrocarbons are observed for TaCy+. Experiments with isotopically labeled precursors were performed, as well as low-energy collision-induced dissociation studies of major reaction products. The implications of these studies with respect to TaCy+ structures and reaction mechanisms are discussed. Total scrambling of the labeled carbon occurred during the TaCy+ reactions with 13CH4. This indicates that the mechanism involves incorporation of the methane carbon into the Cy ligand(s) prior to elimination of a neutral and suggests the possibility of cyclic TaCy+ structures. Evidence is also presented for two structural isomers of TaC7+, TaC8+, and TaC9+.
