Photoionization studies of (BH3)n (n=1,2)

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Abstract
The results of photoionization mass spectrometric studies on B2H6, and BH3 (produced by pyrolysis of B2H6) are presented. The photoion yield curves of B2H+n (n=2–6) and BH+n (n=2–3) from B2H6, as well as BH+n (n=1–3) from BH3 have been obtained. It is shown that the combination of appearance potential measurements for BH+3 (B2H6) and BH+3 (BH3) yields a poor upper limit for −ΔHdimerization, 0 K (BH3) of 52.7 kcal/mol, while the combination of BH+2 (B2H6) and BH+2 (BH3) provides a better upper limit (46.6±0.6 kcal/mol) for this quantity. However, the threshold for BH+ (BH3), combined with auxiliary data, provides the best current experimental value, (34.3−39.1)±2 kcal/mol. This experimental value is in good agreement with a recent ab initio calculation, and is arrived at by using the best current estimate of ΔHf(B2H6), rather than a radically different value proposed in that paper. The ionization potential of BH3, ΔHf (BH+2), and the atomization energy of BH3 obtained experimentally are in excellent agreement with other ab initio calculations. The upper limits on heats of formation for the ionic species B2H+n (n=2–6) are obtained, and plausible structures are discussed for these species, based on the current energetics and various ab initio calculations. Finally, the fragmentation behavior of photoions from diborane is shown to have a more facile explanation by quasiequilibrium theory than by a molecular orbital picture, with the probable exception of BH+3 (B2H6).