Mass Spectrometric Study on Ion-Molecule Reaction of CF₃⁺ with Anisole at Near-Thermal Energy

Abstract

The product ion distribution in the ion-molecule reaction of CF₃⁺ with anisole has been determined at near-thermal energy by using an ion-beam apparatus. The major product channels are the electrophilic addition to lone-pair electrons of the oxygen atom leading to the C₈H₈OF₃⁺, C₆H₅⁺, and CH₃OCF₂⁺ ions with branching ratios of 15.4±2.4, 16.7±3.0, and 17.8 ±2.7%, respectively, and the electrophilic addition to the benzene ring leading to the C₈H₇OF₂⁺ ion with a branching ratio of 35.7±4.3%. The C₆H₅OCH₃⁺ ion is formed by the charge transfer with a branching ratio of 14.4±1.8%. The reaction mechanism is compared with those of benzene, toluene, and non-cyclic oxygen-containing molecules.