[C₆H₆, C₃H₇⁺]and [C₆H₇⁺, C₃H₆] ion‐neutral complexes intermediate in the reactions of protonated propylbenzenes

Abstract

Abstract From the mass‐analysed ion kinetic energy spectra of labelled ions, kinetic energy releases and thermodynamic data, it is proved that protonated n ‐propylbenzene (1) isomerizes into protonated isopropyl benzene (2). It is also shown that the dissociation of the less energetic metastable ions of (2), leading to [iso‐C 3 H 7 ] + and [C 6 H 7 ] + product ions, is preceded by H exchange. This H exchange involves two interconverting ion‐neutral complexes [C 6 H 6 , iso‐C 3 H 7 + ] (2π) and [C 6 H 7 + , C 3 H 6 ] (2α).