Activation of C-H Bonds in Pt(+) + x CH4 Reactions, where x = 1-4: Identification of the Platinum Dimethyl Cation.

Activation of C-H bonds in the sequential reactions of Pt(+) + x(CH4/CD4), where x = 1-4, have been investigated using infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Pt(+) cations are formed by laser ablation and exposed to controlled amounts of CH4/CD4 leading to [Pt,xC,(4x-2)H/D](+) dehydrogenation products. Irradiation of these products in the 400-2100 cm(-1) range leads to CH4/CD4 loss from the x = 3 and 4 products, whereas PtCH2(+)/PtCD2(+) products do not decompose at all, and x = 2 products dissociate only when formed from a higher order product. The structures of these complexes were explored theoretically at several levels of theory with three different basis sets. Comparison of the experimental and theoretical results indicate that the species formed have a Pt(CH3)2(+)(CH4)x-2/Pt(CD3)2(+)(CD4)x-2 binding motif for x = 2-4. Thus, reaction of Pt(+) with methane occurs by C-H bond activation to form PtCH2(+), which reacts with an additional methane molecule by C-H bond activation to form the platinum dimethyl cation. This proposed reaction mechanism is consistent with theoretical explorations of the potential energy surface for reactions of Pt(+) with one and two methane molecules.

Hydration Enthalpies of Ba(2+)(H2O)x, x = 1-8: A Threshold Collision-Induced Dissociation and Computational Investigation.

The sequential bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of Ba(2+)(H2O)x complexes, where x = 1-8, are determined using threshold collision-induced dissociation (TCID) in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. The electrospray ionization source generates complexes ranging in size from x = 6 to x = 8 with smaller complexes, x = 1-5, formed by an in-source fragmentation technique. The only products observed result from sequential loss of water ligands. Charge separation, a process in which both hydrated singly charged barium hydroxide and hydronium ion are formed, was not observed except for Ba(2+)(H2O)3 yielding BaOH(+) + H5O2(+). Modeling of the kinetic energy-dependent cross sections, taking into account the number of collisions, energy distributions, and lifetime effects for both primary and secondary water loss, provides 0 K BDEs. Experimental thermochemistry for the x = 1-3 complexes is obtained here for the first time. Hydration enthalpies and reaction coordinate pathways for charge separation are also examined computationally at several levels of theory. Our experimental and computational work are in excellent agreement in the x = 1-6 range. The present experimental values and theoretical calculations are also in reasonable agreement with the available literature values for experiment, x = 4-8, and theory, x = 1-6. Of the numerous calculations performed in the current study, B3LYP/DHF/def2-TZVPP calculations including counterpoise corrections reproduce our experimental values the best, although MP2(full)/DHF/def2-TZVPP//B3LYP/DHF/def2-TZVPP results are comparable.