The question of tautomerism of alkylnitrile and isonitrile radical cations

Edward K. Chess, R. L. Lapp, Michael L. Gross

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Abstract

The isomeric pairs [CH3CN] and [CH2CNH] and [CH3NC] and [CH2NCH] have been established as stable, noninterconverting structures. The conclusion derives from studies of collision induced decomposition spectra. The same conclusion pertains for the ions [CH3CH2CN] and [CH3CHCNH], and for [NCCH2CH2CN], [HNCCHCH2CN] and [HNCCHCHCNH]. The energy barrier of a [1,3]‐hydrogen shift, a possible isomerization mechanism, is determined to be at least 163 kJ mol−1 for the [CH3CN] and [CH2CNH] pair, and the barrier may be as high as 318 kJ mol−1. The C3H5N and C4H4N2 radical cations decompose before they can be activated with 318 kJ mol−1 of internal energy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)475-480
Number of pages6
JournalOrganic Mass Spectrometry
Volume17
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1982

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