Ion—Molecule Reactions between H3+ and Saturated Hydrocarbons

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Abstract
The ion—molecule reactions of H3+ and D3+ with methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, and n‐butane have been studied by high‐pressure mass spectrometry, using an ion source which employs the beta rays of tritium as the ionizing medium. The rate constants have been measured, and proton transfer has been shown to be the major mode of interaction. If not stabilized by collision, protonated methane and protonated ethane decompose by elimination of hydrogen, with a lifetime of the order of 1 and 10−1 μsec, respectively. Protonated propane and protonated butanes, which have not been detected as stable species at pressures as high as 0.3 torr, decompose by elimination of hydrogen or a smaller saturated hydrocarbon to give an alkyl carbonium ion. Some results concerning the reactivity of these alkyl ions with deuterium and the hydrocarbons are also reported.

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