Generation of hydrated iodide clusters I-(H2O)n by laser vaporization, their fragmentation and reactions with HCl

Hydrated halide anions I-(H2O)(n), n = 0-25, were generated in a laser vaporization source by laser vaporization of solid CsI and water expansion. An investigation of the black-body radiation-induced fragmentation of size-selected clusters (n = 1-12) under collision-free conditions in a. Fourier-transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer revealed an overall k similar to n unimolecular rate constant dependence as has been observed before with other hydrated ions. Adding HCl as reaction gas into the cell region, a series of subsequent ligand exchange and fragmentation reactions result in terminal anions of the type I-(HCl)(n). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.