A tandem mass spectrometry study of the gas phase RSC6H 5Cr (+)L (R = H, C 6H 5; L = arene) and C 6H 5SSC 6H 5Cr (+) ions.

Ion-molecule reactions of chromium containing ions with arylsulfides have been studied in the gas phase and their products have been characterized by tandem mass spectrometry. C6H5SH and (C6H5)2S react as typical aromatic compounds and give rise to Cr(+)C6H5SR] and RC6H5Cr(+)QH5SR' [R = H, CH3, CH(CH3)2; R' = H, C6H5] ions. Metastable ion mass spectra of the latter species show that the metal is more strongly bound to diphenylsulfide than to alkylbenzenes. C6H5SSC6H5 reacts with chromium-containing ions to form only Cr(+)(C6H5SSC6H5). The decomposition characteristics of this ion and, in particular, the presence of a recovery signal in the neutralization-reionization mass spectrum are in keeping with the formation of a 1,2-dithia[2]cyclophane complex ion, which rearranges into a structurel(s) that contains Cr-S bond(s). No evidence was found for metal atom insertion into S-S, C-S, or S-H bonds.