Gas phase reactions of VO⁺ with methyl methacrylates as studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Direct laser ablation of pressed vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) powder in the reaction cell of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer produces VO⁺ as the only reproducible cation. This ion was reacted with methyl isobutyrate, methyl methacrylate, and methyl methacrylate dimer. Gas phase ion/molecule chemistry reveals that the complexity of the product distribution increases with the number of electron rich sites on the reagent molecule. Two sets of ion products are observed: (a) protonated reagent molecule and its corresponding stable fragment, formed by loss of CH₄O, and (b) products containing VO, formed by addition of whole reagent molecules and associated fragments. Products formed are a result of both consecutive and parallel reactions. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments reveal that VO-whole molecule bonds are of a noncovalent nature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.