Hydrogen loss from the toluene molecular ion generates benzylium (Bz + ) and tropylium (Tr + ) ions via two competitive and independent pathways. The corresponding kinetic energy release distributions (KERDs) have been determined under various conditions in the metastable time window for toluene and perdeuterated toluene and have been analyzed by the maximum entropy method (MEM). The isomeric fraction Tr + /Bz + is found to be equal to 0.9 ( 0.3, in good agreement with the values obtained using photodissociation and charge exchange experiments. It is, however, in disagreement with the value 5 ( 2 deduced by Moon, Choe, and Kim (J. Phys. Chem. A 2000, 104, 458) from KERD measurements. The origin of the discrepancy is suggested to be the inadequacy of the orbiting transition state theory (OTST) for the calculation of KERDs in hydrogen loss reactions. For both channels, more translational energy is released in the reaction coordinate than would be expected on statistical grounds because of the presence of a barrier along the reaction path. For the Bz + channel, the barrier entirely results from centrifugal effects. Rotational energy is converted into translation as a result of angular momentum conservation. Deuteration is observed to reduce the importance of the rotational energy flow in the reaction coordinate. The Tr + channel is characterized by the presence of a reverse activation energy barrier of electronic origin. The energy in excess of the dissociation asymptote can be partitioned into two components: the reverse barrier plus a nonfixed energy contribution. About 40% of the reverse barrier is converted into relative translational motion of the fragments. Here again, a lower fraction of the nonfixed energy flows into translation for the deuterated isotopomer.

The complexation of alkali metal ions with amphiphilic fullerene derivatives has been investigated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. The formation of analyte ions occurs via two competing mechanisms including electron transfer from matrix-derived ions and metal ion attachment. The interplay of these processes has been examined by laser fluence dependent sample activation and by variation of the target composition. The attachment of metal ions has been established as the gentler and thus more efficient route towards the formation of intact analyte ions. Investigations into the metal ion complexation have been conducted to reveal the reactivity order of the alkali metals in these reactions and to elucidate the influence of structural differences of the analytes, as well as to unravel effects caused by the anionic counter ion of the metal. The experimental data have been derived by two complementary approaches. Competing reactants were either studied simultaneously, so that the product distribution would provide direct insight into the reactivity pattern, and/or product distributions were obtained in a large variety of separate experiments and normalized for reliable comparison. It has been found that the extent to which complexation is observed follows the charge density order of the alkali metal ions. The structural features of the fullerene-attached ligands were of profound influence on the attachment of the metal ion, inducing enhanced selectivity for the complexation with less reactive metals. The metal ion attachment is reduced with the use of smaller anionic counter ions. Rationalization of these findings is provided within the framework of the mechanisms of ion formation in

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