Ion-molecule complexes of the form HAr are produced in pulsed-discharge supersonic expansions containing hydrogen and argon. These ions are analyzed and mass-selected in a reflectron spectrometer and studied with infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy. Infrared spectra for the n = 3-7 complexes are characterized by a series of strong bands in the 900-2200 cm region. Computational studies at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level examine the structures, binding energies, and infrared spectra for these systems. The core ion responsible for the infrared bands is the proton-bound argon dimer, Ar-H-Ar, which is progressively solvated by the excess argon. Anharmonic vibrational theory is able to reproduce the vibrational structure, identifying it as arising from the asymmetric proton stretch in combination with multiple quanta of the symmetric argon stretch. Successive addition of argon shifts the proton vibration to lower frequencies, as the charge is delocalized over more ligands. The Ar-H-Ar core ion has a first solvation sphere of five argons.

Infrared laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry were used to determine the structures of intermediates and products in the single-atom-catalyzed trimerization of acetylene to form benzene. Complexes of the form V+(C2H2) n were produced in the gas phase via laser ablation in a pulsed-nozzle source, size-selected with a mass spectrometer, and studied with infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy. Density functional theory calculations were performed in support of the experiments. Single- and double-acetylene complexes form V+(C2H2) n metallacycle structures. Three-acetylene complexes exhibit a surprising dependence on the acetylene concentration, forming V+(C2H2)3 and (C2H2)­V+(C4H4) tri- and dimetallacycle ion structures at low concentrations and eventually V+(benzene) at higher concentrations. These observations reveal intermediates along the reaction path of acetylene cyclotrimerization to benzene.

The UV photolysis of solid FOX-7 at 5 K with 355 and 532 nm photons was investigated to unravel initial isomerization and decomposition pathways. Isomer-selective single photon ionization coupled with reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ReTOF-MS) documented the nitric oxide (NO) loss channel at 355 nm along with a nitro-to-nitrite isomerization, which was observed by using infrared spectroscopy, representing the initial reaction pathway followed by O�NO bond rupture of the nitrite moiety. A residual gas analyzer detected molecular oxygen for the 355 and 532 nm photolysis at a ratio of 4.3 ± 0.3:1, which signifies FOX-7 as an energetic material that provides its own oxidant once the decomposition starts. Overall branching ratios for molecular oxygen versus nitric oxide were derived to be 700 ± 100:1 at 355 nm. It is notable that this is the first time that molecular oxygen was detected as a decomposition product of FOX-7. Computations show that atomic oxygen, which later combines to form molecular oxygen, is likely released from a nitro group involving conical intersections. The condensed phase potential energy profile computed at the CCSD(T) and CASPT2 level correlates well with the experiments and highlights the critical roles of conical intersections, nonadiabatic dynamics, and the encapsulated environment that dictate the mechanism of the reaction through intermolecular hydrogen bonds.

Gas-phase ion–molecule clusters of the form V+(H2O) n (n = 1–30) are produced by laser vaporization in a supersonic expansion. These ions are analyzed and mass-selected with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and investigated with infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy. The small clusters (n ≤ 7) are studied with argon tagging, while the larger clusters are studied via the elimination of water molecules. The vibrational spectra for the small clusters include only free O–H stretching vibrations, while larger clusters exhibit redshifted hydrogen bonding vibrations. The spectral patterns reveal that the coordination around V+ ions is completed with four water molecules. A symmetric square-planar structure forms for the n = 4 ion, and this becomes the core ion in larger structures. Clusters up to n = 8 have mostly two-dimensional structures, but hydrogen bonding networks evolve to three-dimensional structures in larger clusters. The free O–H vibration of acceptor–acceptor–donor (AAD)-coordinated surface molecules converges to a frequency near that of bulk water by the cluster size of n = 30. However, the splitting of this vibration for AAD- versus AD-coordinated molecules is still different compared to other singly charged or doubly charged cation–water clusters. This indicates that cation identity and charge-site location in the cluster can produce discernable spectral differences for clusters in this size range.

Zinc–acetylene ion–molecule complexes were produced by laser vaporization in a supersonic expansion. These complexes were mass selected and studied with infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy complemented by computational chemistry. The combined approach of infrared spectroscopy and theory provides information on the structures and bonding of these complexes, as well as evidence for intracluster reactions. Fragmentation patterns demonstrate that the coordination number of strongly bonded ligands is three. Infrared spectra compared to those predicted by theory allow identification of different isomers at each cluster size. The coordination in these complexes varies between η2 and η1 metal-acetylene connections. Structures based on η2 bonding form a symmetric D 3h configuration for the n = 3 complex. This unreactive core ion forms larger clusters with only weakly bonded acetylene in solvation structures. Structures based on three η1-bonded acetylenes form a near-C 3v core ion which is the doorway configuration for subsequent reactions. Electron transfer to the next (fourth) acetylene produces a metal–carbon bond and a trans-bent metal–vinyl structure with a terminal radical site. This radical site attaches a fifth acetylene to produce a vinyl-dimer structure. Evidence for continued reactions in the larger clusters is obscured by solvating acetylenes with more intense IR bands. The asymmetric coordination of zinc cations and the critical configuration with three-fold coordination that leads to reactivity are new features of intracluster metal–molecular reactions.